I've just been reading a book, Pagan Christianity, by Frank Viola and George Barna, which has my mental sparks plugs firing in many directions.

The one that today seems foremost in my mind is the question of (christian) common sense.

We all know the saying that common sense isn't common anymore, but how does this relate to the institutional church?

If what we do is go and sit under one person's teaching, it could be termed that we are getting 'common sense' after all we are all of one mind and body, right? We are all hearing the same thing in common. I think this is also called herd (heard) mentality.

But I wonder if the opposite is true. I wonder if the sheer process of hearing another person expounding upon their latest revelation, numbs us to using the common sense or perhaps more specifically intuition that each of us is gifted with? An intuition that God gives us.

Does participation within an institution shut down our ability to think critically for ourselves. Is the institutional church partially to blame for the demise of poor ol' common sense and for that matter the heart of Christianity?

And further to that, is perhaps hearing of someone else's ideas shutting down our own ability to understand the ideas that God has to share with us personally, through our relationship with Him? Is it detrimental to Gods plan?

Now if that doesn't have you feeling a little uncomfortable, I am not sure what will.

Our personal relationship with God is the most precious gift!