From the Richard John Neuhaus essay cited in the previous post comes this much needed clarification on the difference between an audience and a congregation and how developing one and not the other results in two very different kinds of churches:
The religion of solitude can be practiced in a five-thousand-seat auditorium of a megachurch. In their comfortable seats, each is a member of the audience, with membership consisting chiefly in showing up. An audience is very different from a congregation, never mind the communio with God through Christ for which we were created, and for which, if we rightly read our restless hearts, we long.
. . . . . .
The Church is not merely a voluntary association of the spiritually like-minded catering to the indulgence of private sensibilities in one of Babylon’s many enclaves of choice. The Church is the Body of Christ through time proposing to the world the new creation inaugurated in his cross and resurrection and promised return.
Is it not possible that the structured church we have developed lends itself to this sort of solitude? By “going to church” we give the external appearance of being in fellowship with the church and at the same time make ourselves feel as though we are fulfilling the assembling imperative? Going further, the more “successful” the church as measured by size, the easier it becomes to be part of the audience because it is so difficult to be part of the congregation, much less the church.
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, is of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” – C.S. Lewis
Thank you for such inspiration in this essay. I agree Mike…wow.
wow. amen.