I often found myself prefering the company of people outside my congregation, men and women who did not follow Jesus. Or worse, preferring the company of my sovereign self. But soon I found that my preferences were honored by neither Scripture nor Jesus. I didn't come to the conviction easily, but finally there was no getting around it: there can be no maturity in the spiritual life, no obedience in following Jesus, no wholeness in the Christian life apart from immersion and embrace of community. I am not myself by myself. Community, not the highly vaunted individualism of our culture, is the setting in which Christ is at play.

Summary

This quote highlights the author's realization that their preference for the companionship of those outside their religious community or even their own self-interests was not aligned with the teachings of Scripture or Jesus. Through contemplation and reflection, they come to the understanding that true spiritual growth, obedience to Jesus, and fulfillment in the Christian life can only be achieved through active participation and connection within a community. The quote emphasizes the importance of moving away from individualism and embracing the transformative power of communal life, where Christ is present and actively working.

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