People who claim to be followers of Jesus pack our churches. But they're not connected in community; they try to fly solo. The great John Donne's famous utterance "No man is an island" has been secularized as a noble sentiment for membership in the world community. But as dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Donne was speaking of the disciple's need for community.
Solo discipleship occurs in a program. If I try to fly solo, I'll engage only in activities or spiritual exercises that I have time for, or that seem attractive to me. In other words, I'll maintain control of Jesus' agenda for me and I'll keep my distance from anyone who might threaten my autonomy.
-Bill Hull in The Complete Book of Discipleship
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