On Christ Without the Church...

A number of years ago, Anne Rice--famous for her Vampire Chronicles series before vampires were all the rage--made the startling announcement that she had returned to the Catholic church, exchanging atheism for a life of faith.  Recently, she again surprised readers and fans, as well as the faith community, with this post to her Facebook fan page:

For those who care, and I understand if you don't: Today I quit being a Christian. I'm out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being 'Christian' or to being part of Christianity. It's simply impossible for me to 'belong' to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten years, I've tried. I've failed. I'm an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else.

She makes a number of compelling arguments in defense of her decision in a recent interview with Christianity Today.  Though I respect her integrity in following her convictions, and though I identify with a great many of her frustrations, I find I cannot embrace her solution.

There was a time when I thought I could...when I very nearly did.  Several close friends and family members had been trampled upon by arrogant, thoughtless church leaders leaving them wounded and weary.  I had personally known deep disappointment in a community into which I had poured myself for years.  I began to see the Church as an impediment; something standing between Christ and me.

It has been a painful lesson, but I have come to understand that God uses "quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious" people in our lives for our salvation, just as He uses us for theirs.  They help that which is hidden in us bubble to the surface.  It's not always pretty.  But, the Church provides a "safe" place for us to bump up against one another.  "Like iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Prov. 27:17)

I also find myself challenged, inspired, and nourished by the lovely folks in my local parish.  We feed one another.  We care for those who are hurting.  We rally around those in crisis.  We are family.

If I reject Christianity, with it's contentious, judgemental, angry, abusive members, I also reject the thousands of believers who rush into disaster situations serving, feeding, clothing, building houses.  I reject organizations like Compassion International and World Vision who sustain and empower, one child, one family at a time.  I reject teenagers who work extra jobs so they can go love on kids in Africa.  I reject families who labor tirelessly to help orphans find their forever homes.

I confess, it is considerably more palatable to relate to a Saviour who never snaps at you, who doesn't wag on over dinner, who is not self righteous or needy.  But Christ made it rather clear that we have a responsibility to one another.  And, in his last recorded prayer, that tender lament in John 17, His fervent desire is that we be one.  It is impossible to become one with another while living in isolation.

So I'm in.   For the long haul. Do I wish we more accurately reflected Christ in EVERY action? Most assuredly!  But I hope I will always be humble enough to learn from those around me.  They have so much to teach me.

I close with words of another literary figure who had his own issues with the church.  An observation from C.S. Lewis:

If there is anything in the teaching of the New Testament which is in the nature of a command, it is that you are obliged to take the Sacrament, and you can’t do it without going to Church. I disliked very much their hymns, which I considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But as I went on I saw the great merit of it. I came up against different people of quite different outlooks and different education, and then gradually my conceit just began peeling off.

I realized that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realize that you aren’t fit to clean those boots. It gets you out of your solitary conceit.

*All bolds in the post are mine, used for emphasis, including those in both quotes.

**Originally published 23 August 2010.

Comments

[Kendra]

Shelia, I LOVE this. Thank you for sharing, dear one!

[David]

Well said!

[Nan Jones]

Thank you for sharing this. I am going to repost on FB. I am a pastor's wife so I know full well the abuse and judgment that goes on in the church buildings. I can only pray that Ann Rice will discover that Christianity is NOT a religion, it is a relationship!! And unfortunately, we have modern day Pharisees that warm the pews every Sunday and Wednesday. About a year ago I was complaining about this very thing to my Jesus. He took me to Matthew 23 where He is giving the Pharisees a tongue-lashing about their legalistic, heartless attitudes. The whole chapter is full of, "Woe unto you...!!" The Lord spoke very clearly to my heart and said, "Nan, I dealt with these people every day. Who do you think you and David are that you should not encounter them also?" Well, that got my attention and gave me understanding.

The Body of Christ needs each other for exhortation, accountability, nurturing and discipleship. We must allow God to clean us up through the power of repentance and heal us. And we must not allow Satan to disrupt and destroy the Church any longer.

OK, sermon over.

Bless you!
Nan Jones

[Young Mom]

I LOVE the C.S. Lewis quote. I grew up in a family that decided the church was to far from God and decided to go it alone. I never want to live with one person defining who God is ever again, even if that one person is me.

[Shelia]

Kendra and David, Thanks for the encouragement!

Nan, clearly I am not the only person who feels strongly about this. :) Thank you for your perceptive and personal observations.

Young Mom, I too have learned the folly of my own heart and want to avail myself of the wisdom of those who have gone before and have gone farther.

[Wanda Fowler]

I heard an interview on NPR with Anne Rice several weeks ago on this topic and it disturbed me. I don't think you can "quit being a Christian and remain committed to Christ." We must remember that churches and all venues for worship are made up of human beings with their many frailties. I don't always agree with the stance my church may take on a particular issue, but I think we must remain committed to ever hope to have any impact for good.

[Maurilio Amorim]

Great post, Sheila. Thanks for writing it.

[Account Deleted]

Great post with great points!
Greetings from Romania!

[Shelia]

Wanda, well said. I agree.

Maurilio, Thanks for dropping by. Sorry you can't join us on the Ragnar. Maybe next time...

[Mike]

Another vulnerable post - Thanks! Beautiful insights that encourage and inspire!

[Cindi Rose]

What a beautiful and well-written response to Anne Rice's decision. I am most assuredly IN as well!

[Mimi]

What an amazing post, thank you!