SPIRITUAL INDEPENDENCE SOUNDS LIBERATING

Here is a person who has conscientiously chosen to disassociate with a local congregation of Christians and prescribed, institutional, organized church. The choice is made with a desire and determination to find and to follow a personal path to Christian spirituality. This requires courage. One hopes it will contain joy.

I wonder whether 'spiritually independent' is an apropos designation for this person. Yet the term 'independent' requires some containment because a fulfilling and complete Christian spirituality requires other people. This person must then find his or her own support and companionship for the continuation of a spiritual journey. Can this person find other 'independents' out there who are passionate about God, communicating with him consistently, hearing his voice, obedient to his commissions? Certainly, this person can find injured, religious rebels, and doctrinally muddled people who have given up on church.

I'm not happy with the term 'spiritually independent' as liberating as it sounds. The term derives for me from reading web and blog sites by a former Canadian Presbyterian pastor who now is ambitious to undress religion and who calls himself the Naked Pastor. He is David Hayward. David Hayward's bio and timeline. He is an author, blogger, cartoonist.

He has pastored churches and experienced peaks and valleys and walked away from the church. Hayward is passionate about people who like himself have divested themselves of institutional church to find their own way, and he now provides resources, networking and community via his postings and podcasts and give and take forums online at The Lasting Supper. Online community is one way of finding affinity with people who listen and learn and share.  After looking at his material I know that he cannot assist the individuals I know who have stepped away from church or are still considering doing so. He may have already gone too far away. 

One of his cartoons describes the outcome that concerns me about a withdrawal from church and Christian fellowship and spiritual independence. Surely the person who quits church, needs a game plan to make forward spiritual progress. Spiritually independence sounds liberating but is it healthy?