I was saddened but not at all surprised to read Donald Miller’s recent disclosure that he does not attend a church. I was sad because one cannot be a Christian and reject Christ’s body, his bride, his building. Christians are made and grown in the body of Christ. I was not, however, surprised because this is an all too predictable trajectory for those within the emergent/neo-liberal wing of Protestantism. 

I also admit to feeling sorry for Miller as I read his post. I am not trying to be condescending. He certainly does not need my pity. But pity him I do for his impoverishment of understanding of Christ and his church. As a result he is robbing himself of the very ways that God has promised to nourish him.

There are several things that came to mind as I read Miller’s post:

1. Worship is not about finding a way of personally “connecting to God.”
Miller writes, “I attended a church service that had, perhaps, the most talented worship team I’ve ever heard. I loved the music. But I loved it more for the music than the worship. As far as connecting with God goes, I wasn’t feeling much of anything.” Miller has gained a large following critiquing the church. But here he displays a juvenile understanding of the nature and purpose of worship. It is ironic that Miller embraces the same sorts of expectations that led to the rise of the consumer church which the emergent movement so strongly critiques. Worship is not about my “connecting with God.” Worship is about my giving God his due in the ways that he has prescribed in his Word.

What is more, in Christ we do not have to find ways to connect with God. God has connected to us through Christ! The work has been done. Atonement has been made. Justice has been satisfied and now we are united to Christ through faith. “Connecting to God” is a less than helpful part of the lexicon of the new evangelicalism. It has as many definitions as there are people to use it.

2. I, Me, My
Miller’s reflections are all about his personal preferences and experiences. Certainly there is a place for this to a certain extent. We want to be appropriately introspective. I am a bit of an introvert so I understand this. But nowhere does Miller attempt to talk back to his “me-centeredness.” Indeed, he seems to indulge it. Personal preferences and learning styles seem to be the chief concern in determining whether or not he will be a part of the church or participate in worship with God’s people.

3. The church can be identified.
The church is not an atmosphere. It is not some sort of universal principle. The church is a concrete and identifiable reality. However, Miller writes, “But I also believe the church is all around us, not to be confined by a specific tribe” (He invites us to tweet this). Why does he believe this? It is not taught in the Bible. So I can only guess that Miller has developed this theology of the church from his own personal preferences.

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