Individualism

This morning we are going to continue our series on 21st century Theology. We talked a little bit about theology as a whole in week 1, and in week 2 we talked about goodness, and why we needed to be carefl about thinking of ourselves as “good” and instead realize that all goodness comes only from God, and it is only in His Word that we are able to find truth and goodness. All through Him. While we took last week off for Father’s Day, we are back this week to talk about another topic that I believe will help you understand theology a little better.

Remember way back in week 1, we said that Theology was the study of God, His nature, and how He interacts with His creations.

So today I want to alk about something that is important to all of us, and in many ways, is a large part of our society.

Individualism

There is a saying:

You were born as an individual......don’t end up as a copy

This si something that

What is Individualism

Individualism is an existential belief that says, “I’ve just gotta be me!” While there is nothing wrong with someone being themselves (who else are they supposed to be?), the problem is when self is elevated above reality or truth. While the gospel is for the individual, the gospel-centered individual now has responsibilities to a community called the church as well as to a world without Christ.

Individualism has many expressions. It can be that a person who places self above others, including their spouse and children. It can be a person who does not see the necessity of corporate worship because “I can do the same thing at

home.” It could be the person who imposes their spiritual freedoms at the expense of a weaker Christian. It could be the person who embraces caring for their own or their family’s needs but neglects their responsibility to the larger

community, thinking, “They will have to fend for themselves!” It could also be the person who has too much national or political pride and neglects to see the world for what it is—people who God loves who need him.

See scripture teaches us that while we are all individuals and wonderfully created, that we are all part of one body

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 ESV

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Scripture tells us that the details don’t matter, jew greek (these are national differences); slave or free (these are socio-economic differences); while scripture doesn’t go on to say it we could racial differences, we could add your sex

The bottom line is that it doesn’t matter the details that make you different, God would that you are a part of the body of Christ.

See we spend so much time in differentiating ourselves, and in turn labeling and separating people that aren’t like “us” that sometiumes we forget the simple truth that Jesus Christ gave His life for ALL people.

Now I want to take a moment and note that this fact does not remove the individualism and wonder of who each of us is in Christ, but we have to understand that our beauty and our individualness is not intended to separate us and drive us apart....it is intended to bring us together.

example of bolt and nuts

Christians are Intended to Work Together as a Body

1 Corinthians 12:14–20 ESV

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul describes the church as a body that is made up of individuals. However, though it is made up of individuals, everyone works together and contributes for the advancement of the gospel. Paul suggests the

image of foot saying to the hand that there is no real need for a foot: “I should just leave!” We know that would be silly, but Paul uses this as a form of hyperbole to emphasize the point that the church shouldn’t be that way either.

Though we all have different functions, we act as one body. Christians are described as the body of Christ. Just as physical bodies are made up of different parts which are joined together, so Christians have a unique bond to one

another. Each member has a role to play, and each is important. Even though Christians have unique functions within the body, those functions require cooperation for the body to work properly. Unity is essential.

Toddlers can be funny to watch eat. They are still developing the coordination to hold their fork or spoon and then bring it to their mouth. It often appears that the mouth and the hands are not communicating and that they’re each doing

whatever they want. When this happens, toddlers often spill food all over themselves. A toddler’s eating area is not really known for its cleanliness. Often, that can be the way Christians act with one another—out of sync and often

leaving a mess behind because of the lack of harmony.

1 Corinthians 12:21–26 ESV

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

example of scissors

This passage stresses that each believer has a role to play in the body of Christ

and no role is too small or too big, each working for the benefit of the gospel of

Christ so that Christ’s name be glorified. Now who is the head of the Church?

Colossians 1:18 ESV

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Christ is the head of the body (Colossians 1:18). He is the vital necessity, the preeminent one. He controls the

body’s function. Without the head, the body cannot work.

In the body of Christ, the individual does need to realize their role and calling in

the church. But then they must use it in service to the community. Each is there

for the other. Each believer has a set of gifts that should be utilized for the Lord and his church.

1 Corinthians 12:27–31 ESV

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

some versions don’t just say more excellent....they say most excellent, and we’re not surfing....this is’t just a phrase.....it’s telling us that there is a way to look at people that is the best way to be and to think

Rather than Individualism....Love

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 ESV

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.