A recent Barna study in the USA asked the question: "what is your preferred method of discipleship". The most popular response from Christians (38% of respondents) was "on my own". That is to say, discipleship for this group can be experienced without belonging and participating in community life. It may seem easier, less complicated to be "solo Christians", but author Ronald Rolheiser insists that there is no such thing. He writes:
"part of the very essence of Christianity is to be together in a concrete community with all the real human faults that are there and the tensions that this will bring us. Spirituality for a Christian can never be an individualistic quest - the pursuit of God outside of community, family and church. The God of the incarnation tells us that anyone who says that he or she loves an invisible God in heaven and is unwilling to deal with a visible neighbour on earth is a liar, since no-one can love a God who cannot be seen if he or she cannot love a neighbour who can be seen. Hence a Christian spirituality is always as much about dealing with each other as it is about dealing with God".
Challenging words! What does "concrete community" look like for you at the moment?