Individualism
You can't think about life in the west for long without realizing how completely individualistic we are, how everything in life is about "me" -- how to make my life better, how to increase my wealth. That is all well and good, and, despite its obvious detrimental impact on social organization, cultural individualism could actually help a society survive (perhaps). The more individuals want to better themselves, the better a society/culture will be. In other words, society benefits from the drive of the individual to "get better." This is the theory behind capitalism, is it not?
Sadly, that individualistic attitude--the "I before you, them, or even us" mentality--has noticeably (and regrettably) reached the church. This is not a new phenomenon by any stretch of the imagination; however, the detrimental effects are being felt in new (and potentially deadly) ways. The contemporary church struggles to see beyond the supreme "I" to anyone else's problems, needs, feelings, etc. The once-defining characteristic of "other-love" found especially within the confines of the church has become the exception rather than the rule. What once was a given for Christian communities (to take care of the poor, the hungry, the homeless), now is worthy of news stories--not because the event is so dramatic but because it is so rare!
This individualism strikes at the heart of every aspect of Christianity--from the pulpits on Sunday morning (or any other day, for that matter) to the ubiquitous Christian literature that fills bookshelves and bookstores. A recent survey of best-selling Christian literature shows this individualism to be radically changing the doctrinal landscape of contemporary Christianity. For instance, sin (as defined by those best-selling books) deals only with the individual and God ... no one else is involved. This harmonizes nicely with the feel-good sermons emanating from American pulpits where one can hear sermons on the "7 steps to success" or "how to get what you want from God" but will rarely hear sermons on selling all you have and giving the money to the poor or on the importance of being other-focused.
Perhaps I am being too critical. Perhaps I am generalizing too much--characterizing all of contemporary Christianity by the few who are louder than the rest. Perhaps I am. But even if that's the case, are they not part of the rest of us who claim the name of Christ? And are we not part of them? Isn't that the point? If I can simply write them off as being the few who do not speak for the whole, then am I not succumbing to the same individualism? Perhaps that means that Christians need to step up to the plate, so to speak, and, instead of blaming others, take the blame upon themselves. Perhaps that means that I need to step up to the plate, and, instead of blaming others, take the blame upon myself. And repent--for the sins of the community, for the sins of Christians, for the sins of Christianity--not because I did these things, but because I am a part of a community that has made mistakes and continues to make mistakes.
How else can we move past the supremacy of the I?
Sadly, that individualistic attitude--the "I before you, them, or even us" mentality--has noticeably (and regrettably) reached the church. This is not a new phenomenon by any stretch of the imagination; however, the detrimental effects are being felt in new (and potentially deadly) ways. The contemporary church struggles to see beyond the supreme "I" to anyone else's problems, needs, feelings, etc. The once-defining characteristic of "other-love" found especially within the confines of the church has become the exception rather than the rule. What once was a given for Christian communities (to take care of the poor, the hungry, the homeless), now is worthy of news stories--not because the event is so dramatic but because it is so rare!
This individualism strikes at the heart of every aspect of Christianity--from the pulpits on Sunday morning (or any other day, for that matter) to the ubiquitous Christian literature that fills bookshelves and bookstores. A recent survey of best-selling Christian literature shows this individualism to be radically changing the doctrinal landscape of contemporary Christianity. For instance, sin (as defined by those best-selling books) deals only with the individual and God ... no one else is involved. This harmonizes nicely with the feel-good sermons emanating from American pulpits where one can hear sermons on the "7 steps to success" or "how to get what you want from God" but will rarely hear sermons on selling all you have and giving the money to the poor or on the importance of being other-focused.
Perhaps I am being too critical. Perhaps I am generalizing too much--characterizing all of contemporary Christianity by the few who are louder than the rest. Perhaps I am. But even if that's the case, are they not part of the rest of us who claim the name of Christ? And are we not part of them? Isn't that the point? If I can simply write them off as being the few who do not speak for the whole, then am I not succumbing to the same individualism? Perhaps that means that Christians need to step up to the plate, so to speak, and, instead of blaming others, take the blame upon themselves. Perhaps that means that I need to step up to the plate, and, instead of blaming others, take the blame upon myself. And repent--for the sins of the community, for the sins of Christians, for the sins of Christianity--not because I did these things, but because I am a part of a community that has made mistakes and continues to make mistakes.
How else can we move past the supremacy of the I?
posted by thoughtsofjon | 7:12 AM
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