A friend pointed out this passage to me recently from C.S. Lewis'
The Screwtape Letters in which a demon from hell is writing to another demon, explaining ways in which it is possible to tempt humans towards sin, and direct them to activities that lead to sin, including even, it seems, church hopping (from chapter 16):
Surely you know that if a man can't be cured of churchgoing, the next best thing is to send him all over the neighbourhood looking for the church that 'suits' him until he becomes a taster or connoisseur of churches...
The search for a 'suitable' church makes the man a critic where the Enemy [GOD] wants him to be a pupil. What He wants of the layman in church is an attitude which may, indeed, be critical in the sense of rejecting what is false or unhelpful, but which is wholly uncritical in the sense that it does not appraise—does not waste time in thinking about what it rejects, but lays itself open in uncommenting, humble receptivity to any nourishment that is going...So pray bestir yourself and send this fool the round of the neighbouring churches as soon as possible.
We are also piligrims in a pilgrim church. I think that you can do both. The Mass is universal and you are not writing a Zagat guide.
ReplyDeleteYes, I would think this may have to do more with "religions" than Parishes. One may find the message in a Universalist Church (ugh) different than the Catholic Church but pick one over the Truth as it suits their needs. I've been in Manhattan all week stopping by the Churches in your reviews and it has been a blast. It's great we can find Christ present in the Eucharist throughout this sometimes smutty and sinful (but fun) city.
ReplyDeleteI think the key is the effort (aka- work). If it is easy- if it was the case- the church hopping to find something more palatable, then yes... beware. But your journey was/is anything but easy.
ReplyDeleteLOL.
ReplyDeleteI just caught up with your recent posts. This one is funny. Hope your New Years was good. Thanks (again) for this wonderful work on yours.