The Problem of Individualism
I came across the following recently and considered it telling. It ties into a lot of the previous post from Wendell Barry about community. The conclusion that I think it leads to is that we will never have true community without deep commitment. The quote that follows is from The Connecting Church by Randy Frazee pages 46-47.
Bob and Karen joined a church-sponsored small group in hopes of getting connected to community, but it didn’t work. Why not?
The reflections of John Locke are instructive here. Throughout his book, The De-Voicing of Society, Locke traces the journey to out current “autistic society.” In chapter after chapter he unpacks the choices we have made, as well as the subsequent consequences of de-voicing a society. It is an insightful analysis, but rather depressing. In the book’s final chapter (“Vocal Warming”), it appears as though Locke is going to present practical solutions to this epidemic of individualism. Instead, this chapter dismantles and debunks each contemporary solution, including small groups, as falling short of a decisive victory. He writes:
If small groups are thought of as a solution to desocialization, I’m afraid the news isn’t very good. Few think they work, at least on a personal level … Princeton’s Robert Wuthnow has found that small groups mainly “provide occasions for individuals to focus on themselves in the presence of others. The social contract binding members together asserts only the weakest of obligations. Come if you have time. Talk if you feel like it. Respect everyone’s opinion. Never criticize. Leave quietly if you become dissatisfied.”
In Overcoming Loneliness in Everyday Life, two Boston psychiatrists, Jacqueline Olds and Richard Schwartz, suggest that because of their episodic nature, groups “fail to replicate the sense of belonging we have lost. Attending weekly meetings, dropping in and out as one pleases, shopping around for a more satisfactory or appealing group – all of these factors work against the growth of true community.”
We have brought our mind-set of individualism into our small groups and therefore made them dysfunctional as effective places of true community.
For me the point is that we can’t solve the issue of community by just taking a swipe at it with small groups or other strategies. We should do those things but underneath there has to be a commitment to stay in one place, with one group of people, to work out the life of following Christ with those people in that place over a long period of time. Only then will we have true community. So find a church where the doctrine is biblical and Christ-centered, the leadership isn’t abusive, and the vision is one that you can commit to, then stay there. Be planted in that community and work out all the issues that arise with love and humility and persistence.
Here’s a powerful passage about community from Romans 15:1-7:
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Larry is the senior pastor at 
I was surfing the web and came across this posting and wondered what you would say the definition of “community” is? I looked up the definition of “community in the Webster’s dictionary and found this:
“Community: 1 : a unified body of individuals: as a : state, commonwealth b : the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself c : an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species) in a common location d : a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society e : a group linked by a common policy f : a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests g : a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society
2 : society at large
3 a : joint ownership or participation b : common character : likeness c : social activity : fellowship d : a social state or condition”
A group of Christians, a small group, a church, etc. would fall under the definition of community. I have to say I liked the definition listed under 3a – “a joint ownership or participation”. I think that describes what must happen to really experience true community. Everyone must have a joint ownership and work together for the same goal. The joint ownership brings people together for a common interest.
The Connecting Church quote you posted talks about loneliness and a sense of belonging. These are two areas that even if you are part of a “community” you might still experience. Often a person can be in room full of people, even a room of likeminded people – a unified body, and experience loneliness or a lack of a sense of belonging. Or be part of a “community” for many years and still experience loneliness or a lack of a sense of belonging. Why is this? Is it because we often times look for belonging through people and not through Christ? Is it an individual issue? Is it the “community’s” issue? Or is it a mixture of these things?
How do you follow the instructions in Romans 15:1-7 “…accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” and continue to have a passion and not be kind of numb or have an attitude of just accept (a “whatever” approach)?
I hope I haven’t rambled on and have made sense with my thoughts.