Individualism and the Gospel

Sunday July 19, 2009 ~ 9 Comments

Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary, has a solid article at Christianity Today responding to - and somewhat sympathizing with - Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori's remarks about "the Great western heresy." And what is the "great western heresy" the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in America wants to warn us of? Individualism. Mouw writes,

In her opening address to the Episcopal Church's recent General Convention, the Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori... made a special point of denouncing what she labeled "the great Western heresy"--the teaching, in her words, "that we can be saved as individuals, that any of us alone can be in right relationship with God." This "individualist focus," she declared, "is a form of idolatry."

Dr. Mouw rightly agrees that there are dangerous forms of individualism that had plagued the church, and points out that Christianity Today has articles reflecting a call back to a more corporate understanding and experience of the Christian faith.

It is certainly true that God is saving a people (corporate) for himself, and with them all of creation so that in the end his redemptive work through the death and resurrection of Jesus is truly cosmic in scope. Yet this does not take anything away from the reality that God saves individuals. Mouw explains,

We evangelicals never downplay the importance of individuals--as individuals--coming to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. We never say that an individual's very personal relationship to God is not important. What we do say is that individual salvation is not enough.

Some who are talking through this very issue are simply talking past one another - some wanting to talk about bricks (individuals) while others wants to talk about the building (the community of faith). Yet others are clearly talking about another gospel altogether.

Dr. Mouw's article is a good, short read, as is R. Scott Clark's response to Schori (via Justin Taylor). Wes Kenney agrees with the Presiding Bishop here (something I am sure was difficult for him). You can also download Katharine Jefferts Schori's address here.

What do you think? What are the dangers at play here? How is the Presding Bishop right, how is she wrong? Why does it even matter to us?

Posted on July 19, 2009 at 6:47 PM ~ 9 Comments

Tagged with: articles, gospel, ministry

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9 Comments

By Sharon Hodde on July 20, 2009 1:09 PM

Ed, I can't believe you chose to cite Christianity Today's piece on this matter instead of my personal blog. :)

I did think this topic was very interesting, and I posted my thoughts here: http://sheworships.com/2009/07/16/personal-relationship-with-christ-a-heresy/

By Tim Rogers on July 20, 2009 2:29 PM

Brother Ed,

I believe you owe Brother Wes a more appropriate byline. Your statement about our Brother's agreeing with the Episcopal Bishop is somewhat flawed based on Brother Wes' own words in the link you provided. Wes says; "So let there be no misunderstanding here: in my view, there is much wrong about what the bishop said." He then informs the readers of what he does agree with in her statement. He says; "The danger is that we begin to think that we don’t need the church in order to live in right relationship with God, and it is in this that the bishop’s words resonated with me."

I am not going to try and defend Brother Wes only he can do that. I will offer to you his words and ask that you allow your conscience to be your guide as to the facts of your statement. It seems to surprise you that we BI guys can find something to agree with others from another denomination, but we can and do.

Blessings,
Tim

By Bill Bremer on July 20, 2009 6:05 PM

Our sense of community in Christ is sadly deficient. As you know, koinonia is a much used word in the New Testament.

The rich relationships we thrive in are described by words derived from the Greek word koinonia. Koinonia is a noun translated as communion, community, communication, distribution, fellowship, and partnership. Our actions are identified with the verb koinoneo. It is translated as share, communicating and distributing and is closely related to koinonos a noun denoting a companion, partner and partaker.

Shalom

By Mike Watkins on July 20, 2009 7:40 PM

Ed,

I think that we need to identify the real root while at the same time be careful about giving credit to quotes from dubious sources. Be it individualism or Christian consumerism the compass is simply pointing in the wrong direction, at man.

Clear communication of the cross of Christ will set the compass back to up rather than down, and it will also help the bishop. Humanism, albeit individualistic or communal, is ultimately antichrist in nature. Thanks.

By Rick Howerton on July 21, 2009 7:43 AM

No doubt about it, we have over-emphasized individualism at the cost of community. Throughout scripture God is either creating community, grieving over a community, calling a community back to himself, telling a community how to live in right relationship with Himself and one another, or reminding us He's coming back for His community, the church. Community is the lifestyle of the Christian faith, not individuality. We become followers of Jesus and then, at that point, we are no longer alone. We are in communion with the Trinity and all of those persons who have made that same decision. We are embraced by and saturated into a community. We call that community the church. Maybe a weak but descriptive analogy might be... We are an individual drop of water prior to choosing Christ. After becoming one of His followers we are dropped into a bucket full of water. We still exist as an individual but that individual drop goes unnoticed as it becomes part of a humble whole whose only goal is to reflect the glory of God.

By David Zook on July 21, 2009 8:59 AM

How about this angle:

Could this same assertion be used to talk about about the individual church vs. a community of churches?

By Scott Buell on July 21, 2009 10:31 AM

What astonishes me about the bishop's critique of American Christianity is that her own denomination has so exalted individualism over community that they ignore the settled tradition of the community to reject active homosexual lifestyle as honoring Christ and go so far as ordaining priests and bishops who are actively pursuing the homosexual life. To the point that the American Espicopal church has rejected pleas and calls from the worldwide Anglican community to at least take a sabbatical from this activity.

Bishop Schori is leading THE example of this great heresy of American individualism in the Espicopal Church of North America.

By Jjoe on July 21, 2009 2:18 PM

"Personal Lord and Savior" appear nowhere in Scripture, but that's the foundation of American evangelicalism.

America is founded upon individualism and so it is impossible for our Christian culture to be any different.

Everything from my health care to my education to my political representation to the justice I receive is based on one thing: my personal income.

If "I've got mine, Jack, get your hands off my stack" is our national motto, why do we expect our Christianity to be any different?

If I'm saved, why should I care about you? It makes no difference to my salvation. I'm being sarcastic when I type that, but I think we all know plenty of people who would take it as the gospel truth.

By Ed Stetzer

on July 21, 2009 2:43 PM

Sharon,

I repent! I did read yours and, as always, you have good things to say.

Scott, very profound. The global Anglican family is called ECUSA to repentance and they are going their own way.

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