Individualism in the Church
Phil Wyman has called for synchronized blogging on syncretism in the Church. Though I’ve not been asked to post on this topic, leaving the matter to those more educated than I, it has caught my attention nonetheless. And for those that don’t know me, I do have trouble keeping quiet 
Individualism:
~ a social theory advocating the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual
~ the principle or habit of or belief in independent thought or action.
~ the pursuit of individual rather than common or collective interests; egoism.
Philosophy.
a. the doctrine that only individual things are real.
b. the doctrine or belief that all actions are determined by, or at least take place for, the benefit of the individual, not of society as a whole.
Individualism is the cause of many of the ills we see in the American church. Our churches stress and teach individualistic notions as the primary message of the Gospel. In our atomized society, church and God have become a quick pit stop where we can fill our individual spiritual tanks. “Salvation” has become a completely independent experience and excercise. There is no sense of the communal sense of salvation; as we join with Christ, we are joined with the Body, in which Christ dwells.
An individualistic society stresses independence and individual achievement versus interdependence and group success. I was recently talking with a group of 30 or 40 Christians about world poverty and the churches role in eradicating poverty. Someone said, “Well, it’s not our responsibility to take care of that.”
An individualistic society stresses private property, ownership and upward mobility versus group property, ownership or economic commonality. Think about how often one of the first major tasks a local church takes is working towards setting up the building fund. We must own something. We have to have a place to call our own. Without regard for how this “need” might affect the Church worldwide or it’s mission in the world.
In every study done on American parents, compared with other nations, even industrialized nations, US parents overwhelmingly stress the goal of making their children independent, both socially and economically. I would add, as Christians, we also work towards spiritual independence. The church has become the classroom, where personal holiness can be individually mastered.
We do not see the Church as something that trancends geography, economics, education, time and space. The church is now a group of individuals gathered around a doctrine, a ritual, a person or an ethical code.
I stand alone before God, giving my 10%, reading my bible, confessing my sin, and receiving personal forgiveness. And then, I go to heaven.
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