Very early on in the history of mankind, an interesting story occured. A young man named Cain had his sacrifice to God rejected. Meanwhile, his brother's sacrifice was accepted by God. Cain was in a bit of a fit after this. He invited his brother, Abel, out to the field with him, and then took out his anger at God on his brother. Cain killed Abel. The first of countless murders in the history of mankind took place.
Later on, Cain was confronted by God. God asked him where his brother Abel was. Cain responded with a vital question. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Cain wanted to dissociate any responsibility to and for his brother. He wanted to make it more about the individual rather than the community. And from that time forth, humankind has tended to lean more toward our lives as individuals rather than our lives as community.
Yesterday, I posted how the American worldview is very focused on the individual, while the Christian worldview is very focused on the community. It becomes extremely difficult to bring these two together. In fact, I would even argue that it's impossible to do so. We cannot focus on our lives as individuals and expect the community to flourish. Likewise, if we focus on the community, we simply cannot exalt the individual. And yet, these two worldviews exist in North American congregations, often not being dealt with very well.
This gets played out in a lot of ways. From worship style to the book of the Bible we study, we each have our individual opinion. We want to get something out of it personally. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's also not the point. Throughout the Bible, God makes it clear that what is of benefit to the building up of the community and the extension of the community is foremost. What we get out of it as individuals is important, but is not to be sought after at the expense of the community. Everything that the Church does together should always be put through the filter of, 'Is this for a few individuals, or for the building up of the greater community?"
What do I want you to take away from reading this today? More than anything, I would like to have you asking a few simple questions when it comes to the things of the Church. In general, a good question to ask of everything is, does this highlight us as individuals, or does this highlight our life together as community? If it leans more toward the individual, then it likely needs to be rethought. So take that question, and walk through your typical "Church experience". How would you answer that question? If you don't like what it says, what can be done to change the focus?
Later on, Cain was confronted by God. God asked him where his brother Abel was. Cain responded with a vital question. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Cain wanted to dissociate any responsibility to and for his brother. He wanted to make it more about the individual rather than the community. And from that time forth, humankind has tended to lean more toward our lives as individuals rather than our lives as community.
Yesterday, I posted how the American worldview is very focused on the individual, while the Christian worldview is very focused on the community. It becomes extremely difficult to bring these two together. In fact, I would even argue that it's impossible to do so. We cannot focus on our lives as individuals and expect the community to flourish. Likewise, if we focus on the community, we simply cannot exalt the individual. And yet, these two worldviews exist in North American congregations, often not being dealt with very well.
This gets played out in a lot of ways. From worship style to the book of the Bible we study, we each have our individual opinion. We want to get something out of it personally. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's also not the point. Throughout the Bible, God makes it clear that what is of benefit to the building up of the community and the extension of the community is foremost. What we get out of it as individuals is important, but is not to be sought after at the expense of the community. Everything that the Church does together should always be put through the filter of, 'Is this for a few individuals, or for the building up of the greater community?"
What do I want you to take away from reading this today? More than anything, I would like to have you asking a few simple questions when it comes to the things of the Church. In general, a good question to ask of everything is, does this highlight us as individuals, or does this highlight our life together as community? If it leans more toward the individual, then it likely needs to be rethought. So take that question, and walk through your typical "Church experience". How would you answer that question? If you don't like what it says, what can be done to change the focus?
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