Unchurched Spirituality

What is the nature of true spirituality? Russel Moore critiques the attitude some take about campus ministries, particularly the tendency to replace the church with campus ministry: "Sometimes young Christians mistake youthful idealism and, frankly, erotic charge for the spiritual gravity of a moment." If I can add my 2 cents, note that you can pick your friends, but not your family. The same dynamic applies to Christian life- the church is a family, not a group of friends you choose. Campus ministries can be attractive partly because you get to choose to hang out with people you like, people who are like you. Join a church, and you do not have such liberties- the people there are your brothers and sisters in Christ, like it or not!

Part of the beauty of this reality is that, while friends may come and go, a healthy family is the foundation of a person's life. Family members are supposed to care for each other, whether or not they particularly like each other! Furthermore, these kinds of relationships allow us to grow by bring out (and cutting down) the worst in us, our pride. Jesus came to save broken and sinful people; if He saved you, on what basis can you judge another person as inferior, or not worth your time? What part of "But I don't want to have to deal with those people!" doesn't sound like arrogance to you?

Campus ministry can be fun, powerful, strategic, and even necessary. However, it is not the center of Christianity! As a parachurch worker who values the local church above parachurch organizations, I appreciate and recommend Dr. Russell Moore's article, Jesus Didn't Die for a Campus Ministry.