Just a few observations from the last assessment gathering. They’re not trying to make life harder on us, instead, we should think of these meetings as vital for ones development. I’m not buying it.
The intention or motive might be genuine but the framework and approach is just flat out misplaced, which is- at least I think, misleading.
Individuals are being taught to place their “dreams,” “callings” or whatever else you wanna call them first priority. Here we go again. Any over hyped “spiritual” approach runs a high risk of losing practicality.
“What has God called me to do?” “God has something special for me.” We are taught to think of God as only pertaining to their desires, needs and so on. People are conditioned to operate in a specific capacity.
For example, religion seems to consistently help people feel guilty for some of the following reasons: 1) Not going to church 2) You didn’t give money to the church 3) You didn’t read or pray enough this past week/month/year 4) What else?
The striking reality about this, it’s completely individualistic. A play on emotions- “How does this make you feel?” or “I feel like” (such and such).
I guess we shouldn’t expect anything less from our American (Western) culture. I mean, it’s about you. Forget everyone else, it don’t matter who you walk on or through to get what you want.
American Christianity treats God like a puppet. From the way folks are conditioned to think in churches, to higher learning institutions and so forth. It’s seen in church teachings: ‘personal sin’, ‘you and your relationship with God’ and messages on giving to receive.
There’s more to the story than someone’s individual salvation. Not because I or some scholar said so but because it’s the border New Testament story says so.
Anyhow, back to the story or event that caused me to think and reflect on this topic. These assessment meetings.
Why does everything I hear seem to flow against the Biblical witness. Maybe I’ve missed something?
But where’s the talk about God’s higher purpose to reclaim this world, renew creation, along with putting the world to rights? There’s no mention of the bringing together of heaven and earth as depicted in the NT, including new bodily life after death which is known as resurrection. Notice, there’s a difference between “the notion of heaven” as believed in a popular circles and what I just wrote before ( more on that later).
There’s a need for a border, complete Biblical portrait on Christian living, which should come from an underline worldview- the lens one looks through to see the world- informed by a thoroughly early Jewish/Christian first century understanding while aiming to address social concerns and problems of our day.
Yes, we’re individuals but there’s a need for balance. I understand we live in a narcissistic society, and it’s no surprise that we assume that past cultures function like ours. Bad move.
2 Comments
What I think is interesting about what you say is that minimization of individualism goes all the way through. You downplay the role of personal sin, a personal relationship with god, a personal calling by god for your life, thereby downplaying god’s role in an individual’s life. From there I could ask what, if any, role god plays in societies or in the world at large.
We were always taught (in church) that our lives are important because god has a specific plan for each person’s life. He knows everything. He knows every hair on my head. And therefore, he has a plan. And if I listen and be a good boy, and follow him (whatever that means), he will help me to carry out that plan. It’s almost as if, when you do what god thinks you should do, things will go smoothly. But when you veer off that path, things will become difficult. I can tell you, experientially, I have found this not to be the truth. In fact, my life became more prosperous and less stagnant when I stopped listening for god’s direction and began relying on my own judgment and determination. When I found strength inside myself, I became progressive.
It also bothers me that churches relate giving/righteousness to receiving. It creates an image that those in the church who have the most money, have it because they are righteous. And I think we all know that’s not true. Seems to me if they were such good people, they might not have so much left to give.
Comments, Miguel?
Hey,
Plenty here to address, so let’s get started. First, I guess you could say I downplay the role of the individual because the framework out of which much of this type of theology comes, grossly misrepresents the New Testament witness. There’s a need for balance, I guess we could call it a holistic approach.
Many times, at least I think, things like personal sin, my calling and the like, go beyond how early Jewish/Christians thought, including the actual authors of the text themselves.
You said, “From there I could ask what, if any, role god plays in societies or in the world at large.” Here’s where individualism factors in, people don’t know how to think outside the lines of “me and my personal relationship with God.” This type of ideology finds expression in all sorts ways; just look at what we see in many Christian circles (attitude) with regard to the earth, environment, politics and, in church teaching as you already noted.
Brain, much Christians within the framework (I just mentioned) either don’t know how to think about that type of question or never do. What does it mean to be part of a wider global community whether one is a Christian or not? Also, I have a different approach, when I think about what some refer to as “calling” or whatever, I try to place that within what the NT writings (especially the Gospels) speak most about, the Kingdom of God. This, not Jesus is the central message of these writings.
If I’ve understood my years of learning correctly, this kingdom movement (God’s new creation in Christ) has been inaugurated. The NT (New Testament) writers invite us to participate (oh no, is this individualism?)
The question is to participate in what? Getting people saved? telling people they need to repent? For some, they’d save you bet. This is the whole point. Not even close. Those things have their place when understood accordingly. Sorry, lots to unpack. Trying my best. 
Next, okay… saying God has a specific plan for everyone is… haha, a nice thing I guess? I don’t like this type of thinking and approach for the following reasons: 1) creates anxiety as people scrap to magically figure out what God’s special plan is for them. This causes all sorts of trouble as people just about lose their minds tying to do what they think “God wants them to do.” Some say, God told me this or that, well that’s never happened to me! So, some seem to experience something I’ve yet too.
As far as the rest of that approach, following God’s path or die. What a joke, cmon! Now, there’s a way of being God’s people, kingdom people if you will. A way of being “new creation” if you will. A way of love, respect, treating people like human beings; Jesus talks about love, a call to love your neighbor is a call to social justice. Judaism is passionately concerned about what is justice, beautiful, true and so forth.
For me, the bigger question is about what it means to be genuinely human? To this, is what the NT witness is getting after. What does it mean to be human, made in the image of God of the creator God? Tons of implications follow, this isn’t only about a mental assessment. Ones worldview should inform their actions- the way they treat people and the environment.
Yeah, as you noted, based on your experience, that kind of thinking- informed by certain church teachings across multiple traditions. Sadly, many have been raised with this type of guilt driven teaching. It makes me sick, uneducated fundamentalist preachers are the source of- to a degree- of guilt, anxiety and fear.
Simply put, early Christians were suffering and constantly experiencing hardship, they never believed Jesus’ kingdom movement was about ending suffering or escaping this world, in fact, it meant for them, the opposite. They weren’t practicing a spiritual, private religion because as both scholars and history affirm, the local rulers and authorities have nothing to be worried about if “the name of the game was about private, personal religion.” It just doesn’t add up.
Again, that kind of teaching on giving is flat out wrong. No biblical basis. NONE! Unless of course, they distort and abuse the text whenever they feel like it.
Hopefully, this should do for now. Appreciate your thoughts and questions.
-Miguel