>More specifically, it is to live in
>a faith and family community. When
>we are separated from family and
>community experience shows that we
>are not more strong and free, but
>weak and isolated.
You're assuming that inside of a church building is the only place that a person can find family and community on Christmas, and that's an errant assumption.
One obviously experiences community when you have breakfast together in the morning as a family, give gifts to each other as a family and with friends, sit down to eat together, play games in the evening together, all are outworkings of community that is taking place outside of a church building.
Second, realize that there is a wider agenda in the criticism than just a debate over this issue. Many of the churches which are being criticized are evangelical churches in the saddleback/Willowcreek/big church/purposedriven churches mold. Lots of churches that AREN'T in that mould, or dissenters who don't like that mould, have made this an issue because they think that they can win points in a wider war they are waging against these churches.
We should STOP FIGHTING and start focussing on our mission, which is to "Go into all the world and make disciples" not "Go into all the world and make sure to worship me in the absolutely correct prescribed manner".
I work with Christian university students from literally dozens of denominations, and it always amazes me how every single denomination seems to produce a lot of loveable, nice, wonderful believers, who think that all the other traditions are wrong and/or going to hell. We're so obsessed with fighting with one another that we're no longer keeping up with what Jesus is doing in the world, and that is very unfortunate.
Sorry, I should have filled out the form for my post properly.
Hey Paul.
I'm with you in regards re: "denomination[s] seem to produce a lot of loveable, nice, wonderful believers." That's my experience as well. As for thinking other groups are no good, my experience on that is quite mixed. I've been on the nasty end of that but I try not to assume the worst of anyone.
This blog has lots of readers from all over the map - aetheists, agnostics, gnostics, many non Catholic Christians, as well as a good number of Catholics. I always take that as a sign that I'm doing something right. I believe in open enquiry.
That entails open and honest discussion, however. I'm open to being questioned and talking to others who feel the same.
The question in this case is what obligations we have, and as you point out, who "we" are. My idea of community is pretty different from "community when you have breakfast together in the morning as a family, [etc.]" That's NOT wrong but I'd characterize it as radically incomplete; its not nearly broad enough to challenge and teach as well as comfort.
Welcome aboard, mate.
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