First off – it occurred to me yesterday that I need to stop blogging for Lent. I know, I know Lent is half over, and this is not some lame attempt to have my cake and eat it too by only forgoing the blog for half of the time, rather I think it’s the case of me just being a little slow on the introspection/reflection side of things. It just simply did not occur to me that my computer time (which tends to be mostly blogging time) was getting in the way of my relationship with my wife and possibly God. Obviously, I’m not saying that blogging is bad (I’m doing it right now and will again after Easter), but for this brief season I need to step away from the blog! I find that it is too easily addictive and consuming, I need to refresh and reconnect.
That said, I do want to conclude the post from below about why the “emerging church” (EC) people like Catholic/Ancient/Liturgical stuff. Steve, who happens to go to church in Norwood (small world indeed!), commented below that the EC is eclectic and borrows Catholic stuff cause of its effectiveness. I think there is definitely truth to that.
I also think that there are a couple other factors involved (and probably a lot more that I’m not thinking of). One, being as a society we have grown up with a severe disconnect from history. Part of the Enlightenment project was a keen sense of progress and of leaving the past behind. Jung talks about the ideal type for “Modern Man[Woman]” as being always in the present, fully individualized (isolated) – the true autonomous, rational self. Our “heritage” of this sad state is that we have lost our connection to the past. Reclaiming our Catholic roots helps us reconnect. Sure part of it may be a vicarious history, but as the body of Christ/People of God it is still our family history.
Two, I also wonder if part of our penchant for liturgical stuff is drawn out as part of our overstimulization from consumerism. Many have grown up within a church that has practically prostituted itself in front of an unbelieving world in order to be noticed, taken seriously, or attended. But 1) it doesn’t work, 2) it’s sick, 3) it wears on you. Doing the morning daily office from Phyllis Tickle is nice because it is not about finding something that fits ME, that serves ME, that feels good for ME. It is rather something that forms me. I adjust to it. I submit to the liturgy as a formative function of drawing me ever closer to Christ and Christ-likeness. Obviously this can be perverted and can be the next “spiritual commodity” or fad that comes along.
I’m certain there are other reasons too – not least of which may be that this is just where the Spirit is leading the church – but for now (and until Easter) I will close.
