I am convinced that “individualism” is one of the most pervasive problems of the church in the Western Hemisphere.
The gospel, you see, is not just a message for individuals, telling them how to avoid God’s wrath. It is also a message about a kingdom, a society, a new community, a new covenant, a new family, a new nation, a new way of life, and therefore, a new culture. God calls us to build a city of God, a New Jerusalem.
Remember the cultural mandate. Sin does not abrogate it..
The gospel creates new people, who are committed to Christ in every area of their lives. People like these will change the world. They will fill and rule the earth for the glory of Jesus. They will plant churches and establish godly families and they will also establish hospitals, schools, arts, and sciences. That is what has happened, by God’s grace. And that is what will continue to happen until Jesus comes. (The Doctrine of the Christian Life, pp.861-862)
(HT: Dashhouse)
Eugene Peterson:
I didn’t come to the conviction easily, but finally there was no getting around it: there can be no maturity in the spiritual life, no obedience in following Jesus, no wholeness in the Christian life apart from an immersion and embrace of community. I am not myself by myself. Community, not the highly vaunted individualism of our culture, is the setting in which Christ is at play.” Eugene Peterson, Christ Plays , 226.
Hi Chris,
I am sorry that I am commenting on all of your posts but what can I say? The subject matters are all near and dear to my heart.
It is only recently that I have come to see that it IS possible to experience community (the way that God intended) in a local church. I believe that if you are a Christian, there is a holy desire that cries out for right relationship with others. Come to think of it, that’s probably why so many are emotionally and spiritually devastated over relational problems in church. The reality fell painfully short of their unseen hope.
I think the Bible is pretty clear that there are no “Lone Rangers” in the Kingdom. We need each other. Ephesians 4:15 says that, “We will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” I think this scripture suggests that our overall fruitfulness absolutely depends upon whether we are rightly positioned or stationed in the body.
There are many churches that stress evangelism over the the equally important obligation to build and grow believers into maturity. I don’t think that is biblical. Didn’t Paul say that he wanted to “present every man perfect in Christ” in Colossians 1:28? And didn’t he tell the Ephesians that God HIMSELF gave people in the church different gifts so that the people of God would be prepared “for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature”? Basically, when I am not positioned at my station my brothers and sisters suffer. And, when they are not in their respective stations, I suffer.
On a personal note, I believe that church is best experienced in smaller settings and so my preference is for a smaller church. I think big churches can be fine but they have to break up into smaller settings in order for anything good to happen. I know the difference it has made in my life to have a shepherd who is intimately acquainted with the deep things of my heart and life and who is praying for me. I know the difference it makes to be around Christians and have the freedom to be as transparent as a glass of water. And yet it is this very transparency that keeps us all accountable to one another.
Acts 2:42-47 describes the fellowship of the believers – they were together, they were sincere, and they were glad! I used to read the New Testament and when I got to places like that know there was something missing in my christian experience. I used to think, “Well, maybe that was just for THEN.” Now I know that it is NOT just for then. God put it in there so that we would know it is for us believers today – even now!