This week I've read a couple of posts where people are thinking about how much or little people, especially post modern people, whatever that means, feel any sense of allegiance to connectedness to historic denominations. As I've read, commented (rather ham fistedly) and reflected, I think there is something subtle here that I am missing.
My own Christian experience has been strongly influenced by 'small c' congregationalism - i.e. local authority and autonomy but with come sort of associationalism or connexionalism. I only discovered this when I was in membership of a church that didn't operate on a congregtional model. Realising that this mattered to me, meant that the roots of this movement in the East Midlands/East Anglia area where I grew up became important to me. People were willing to be arrested, imprisoned, fined or executed for their right to practice this approach to Christianity - so it mattered to me that their tradition was honoured.
But how much is this a reflection of my own personality and interests? I have always loved history and felt it held the key to avoiding the endless reptition of errors that humans make (OK, I was an odd child, thinking about deep questions when anyone else was playing with Barbies or Action Men). I am also, apparently, by personality type, loyal - once I sign up with something it is difficult for me to abandon it - as well as a whole load of other rather serious attributes. So maybe who I am means that denominations and their histories are inherently more attractive to me than to others?
There are lots of people who recongise the value of, say, congregational governance believer (NOT, NOT, NOT adult!) baptism, liturgy, sacred dance, two or seven sacraments, or whatever, but have no similar sense of allegiance to, or fascination with, the traditions from which they emerged. That isn't wrong, but it is different. Subtley maybe, but none the less relevant, perhaps especially in thinking about the potential longer term survival of these funny things called denominations. Whilst I think that Christianity >> Church >>> denominations, I also think that denominations have an inherent worth in preventing the "big C" Church sliding into a monochrome extreme. Perhaps denominations are a necessary heresy?!
One thing that intrigues me, though I know little about it and have scant evidence to make any claims, is that the same poeple who feel little or no denominational allegiance feel strong allegiance to football teams or nations. Whilst loyalty to Tottenham Hotspur over Arsenal is entirely laudible (Oops, that's a fail in my doctorate then), I don't readily see how someone can feel loyal to a football team, and interested in the scores of matches no one remembers, but not to the faith tradition that has nurtured them. I think I'm missing something subtle and important somewhere. Maybe someone clever can help me out here...?