Isolation in Ecclesia?
I should like to thank everyone for their warm welcome.
In reading David’s latest post on isolation, I could not help but to think of Richard M. Weaver’s classic Ideas Have Consequences (1948). In the chapter addressing what he calls “the spoiled-child psychology,” Weaver posits that the decay of America’s social fabric is the dependence of man on innumerable man-made institutions in the city to carry out even the most menial tasks, all the while loosing touch with his fellow man. In removing a rural, agrarian dependence upon one’s self and another, man ironically becomes his own means to an end, yet at the same time relying on the social and technological inventions of others. This ethos, of course, is rooted in the Emersonian ideal of the personal psyche being revered before all else. Physical, emotional, and intellectual comfort must be afforded every chance to advance.
But I think that we see this also in Christianity, most especially in America. The idea of isolation in ecclesia came to mind when I read David’s statement that “being bound to one’s local community by devotion and discipline regardless of what comes around” is the essence of “discipline of place.” As a Catholic convert, I am often reminded of Flannery O’Connor’s statement that time and again we suffer more from the Church that for it. As the silly season after Vatican II settles, this is most certainly true. Finding a local congregation where the Gospel is preached and secular instruments, such as pianos, guitars, and drums, are not used to supplement the most banal of banal music, is a feat. But even in the midst of the most stupefying secularity we must find the Sacred.
I would suggest that without some sense of ecclesia, and most pragmatically in the Pauline sense we find in Eph. 3:1-10, the modern American Christian is never truly in a community, one he is bound to by devotion and discipline. Rather, he is simply among others he agrees with in conception and practice. This is certainly visible in that most piculear practice of “church shopping.” Again, Newman comes to mind, and his observation that pursuing a practice of placing the human gnosis above the Logos got the Gnostics in trouble.
Yet without a working definition of ecclesia that includes the Logos, such seems little more than chikenary. I think that Pius XII’s Mystici Corporis captures well this vision of ecclesia for the 21st century. In a world where there is a palpable divide between the church and the state, the church’s identity as the Body of Christ on Earth must be all the more visible. Being a part of this Body is not merely an assent of faith or agreement, but rather a continual grace, from baptism to burial. Living within its confines, ecclesia must be more than a social contract of agreement through statements of faith or practices of living: it encompases a discipline of place that demands orthodoxy, orthopraxy, sacrifice, and devotion.
10 Responses to “Isolation in Ecclesia?”
Egads man! I can see you will be stirring things up royally! Welcome aboard – I can’t wait to read more from you.
Finding a local congregation where the Gospel is preached and secular instruments, such as pianos, guitars, and drums, are not used to supplement the most banal of banal music, is a feat.
There’s been scarcely any decent church music since the Reformation. The organ accompaniment to the old classic hymns is quite dreary, and modern “praise music” tends to be as bland as a 1970s variety show. “Silent Night” in its original incarnation – to be sung with a single acoustic guitar providing the instrumental – is a notable exception.
Shop Holy Rosary in Indianapolis at their 9:30 Latin High Mass. The music is also very interesting in that it takes in some 1600 years of song.
Scarcely any decent church music since the Reformation? What about Bach? Handel? Mozart? They are better missionaries than the proselytizers, methinks.
Incidentally, Holy Rosay is my church here in Indianapolis. I was actually introduced to Roman Catholicism while at Wabash – we would drive over to Indianapolis once a month to sing with the chruch schola. Thanks for the very good recommendation, nonetheless!
“Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together…”
I have never understood how almost the entire body of Christ for the last 2000 years could take a statement as basic as the above and turn it into the massive, structured institution that it is today. If you’re one of His, then just make sure you get together once in a while! That’s all it’s saying! That can be assomplished at a private home or a public resteraunt. It can be accomplished with as few as 3 people. Why spend huge amounts of money on buildings all over town to cram people in like cattle once a week, every week to accomplish nothing?
The answer to that question is relevant to our discussion concerning isolation. The majority of today’s Christian doesn’t want REAL community. They prefer things at arms length. People just aren’t gonna get together on their own like they should and get personal. They prefer being a small nameless entity in a crowd of Christians without ever giving or receiving from the whole. But because everyone else is also not giving and receiving, it becomes a pathetic rehash of old sayings and hand shakings with empty smiles.
There is some connection between Holy Rosary and Wabash College. There may have been a music professor or some other learned person who helped them select music. For the benefit of those looking, however, one of their selections was O bello Dio, Signor del Paradiso in translation..a pilgrim song dating from the time of the Crusades and Ein Haus voll Glorie Schauet sang in the original German. Both were sung well in my view although I don’t claim any music expertise.
Glad to hear the question come back into view. The latest ‘Top 50 Influential Churches‘ report may heighten the conversation even. Care to address it, Seth?
This is an excellent post, although a bit errant at one point. There is simply nothing (other than man-made traditions) that would allow for a distinction between a secular instrument and a sacred (spiritual? Christian? whatever?) instrument. Banality is one thing. Musical instruments are another, and no necessary connection between the two exists.
“Scarcely any decent church music since the Reformation? What about Bach? Handel? Mozart? They are better missionaries than the proselytizers, methinks.”
Obviously, you haven’t been in a church in a while….. “Six Flags Over Jesus” franchises don’t allow Bach, Handel, or Mozart.