It is as American as apple pie to be individuals, to go it alone, to stand on one's own two feet, to live by your own existence. This is what freedom is all about, isn't it? According to Barry Shain’s The Myth of American Individualism, the individualism we have today is the complete opposite direction of the intentions of our founders. Liberty for the early Americans did not mean complete freedom to be left alone, but instead the freedom to order one's life by the ethical demands of the Scriptures, confirmed by reason, within a community. The earliest Americans believed that true human freedom is only possible if it is lived out in a moral, tightly-knit community. It is freedom with and for community.
But, our commitment to individualism has led to the breakdown of community, disconnection of families, neighbors and townspeople. In his book, Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam charts the cultural breakdown of social clubs and organizations. While more people are bowling than ever before, fewer are bowling in leagues. While more people talk of the need for better education, fewer are involved in organizations like the PTA. While more people are interested in matters of religion, fewer are inclined to join churches. Mars Hill Audio reported a study of viewers who watch hours and hours of Home Shopping channels. The Study determined that the majority of people who call in and purchase items are “regular” viewers, many of them elderly shut-ins who tend to think of the Television “hosts” as friends, and the show as a kind of virtual “community”. The study concluded that, maybe in a world with increasing personal disconnection, the only place where the most lonely of our society can find a place to belong is as a "member" of a club where key requirement is to buy things. As William Dyrness has written, "The Freedom to be left alone has become the curse of being alone." With rampant individualism, we have become a country of people who live out our existence in large part alone.
But, since God is a Trinity, the essence of God is loving relationship, best understood as Communion. Therefore, the essence of humanity, as God’s creation, is also relationship.
This can be very difficult for us modern Westerners to grasp. In cultures where identity is tied to family relationships, trinitarian relationship and identity is more easily understood and accepted. But we have been so steeped in individualism that we forget that even the Lone Ranger had Tonto. We naturally believe that the very essence of humanity is the individual will. Truly understanding who God is, is absolutely necessary to understanding who we are and who we are meant to become.
Another reason for this blog is that I want to tap into our current cultural hunger for community and demonstrate how Christian Community (which I will generally refer to with a capital “C”) is the only truly life-transforming environment. (Indeed, while absolutely no substitute for genuine, local, personal community, I think that the blogosphere-if kept in perspective—offers us an opportunity to nurture conversation and connections across the miles and philosophical spectrum.)
But first, let’s define what I mean by Community. Our cultural is currently undergoing a period of nostalgia for the day in which neighbors and families were stable, knew each other well, and cared for each other through the ups and downs of life. Many social commentators are trying to restore the ideal of civic community into American public life, and I deeply understand and applaud the efforts. But Christian Community is not just about neighborliness (though certainly the gospel demands that we “love our neighbors”) nor is it just about proximity (though without proximity Community is impossible). It’s not just being friends or living in the same housing development. It’s about sharing more than a cup of sugar and the lawn mower, but core values and a vision for living.
What this means is the church in its essence is not an organization, even a helpful, divinely mandated one. Contrary to what many of us have been taught, the church is not just a means of grace; and the church is not just here to help you in your individual journey of faith.
I remember sitting in evangelistic meetings as a young Christian hearing several well-meaning preachers, (including, later, myself, I must admit) saying, “All you have to do to be saved is to accept Jesus into your heart. There is no church to join. There’s nothing to do. You can have a relationship with Jesus right here tonight all by yourself.” Usually the preacher would suggest that a good Bible teaching church would be helpful to the new believer (like vitamins help a diet), but what was most important was a “personal relationship by asking Jesus into your heart.”
Over time I have come to realize that Paul would never have preached that message. Instead, all of the early church preached, “Believe and be baptized.” Have faith in Christ and join with the people of Christ. Know the God who is Community and become part of it yourself.
Further, Christian Community is not just a shared experience. It’s not people who sit together in pews or a movie theater or a football stadium (even if they are the audience for a Christian event!). It’s not polite conversation at a potluck or a great weekend together at a Christian camp. Christian Community is an ontologically irreducible organism. It is a living reality that is imbued with the Spirit of God. And most dramatically, it is the very life of the Triune God drawing people into a covenantal relationship with God and each other. It is God’s own being on earth lived in and through believers for the single end-result of seeing each person become like Jesus Christ. So that the Community together is a witness for Christ.
Which is how we will end this series next post…
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