In our culture/context what does christianity and the church mean to you?

Jason Clark has this thought provoking post which i think is asking what does church/christianity means to us in a world where we define ourselves as individuals first, with the power to do what we want, when we want?  Where are expectation is that the world is shaped for us, tailored to our own individual needs, where for a price we can have it "our way" because "we're worth it."

For me it provoked 2 questions/thoughts and I'd love to hear what you think/feel:

1. what is the point of the church? As Jason points out the move to agency (us operating as individuals) means that we can chose to have a life of faith outside the church. This particulary resonates as being a reasonable appropach where salvation is seen as crossing a line, chosing Jesus and then waiting around to die and go to heaven. Once the deal has been sealed so to speak what need is there for church? Afterall once i have Jesus why do i need anyone/anything else..? church maybe is like breakdown cover/insurance, there in case anything goes seriously wrong and in most cases hopefully they can get me back on the road quick smart.
2. what is the christian identity anyway? How do you define being a christian (if you are one)? what is it about being a christian that makes me/us distinct from any other concerned citizen on planet earth? What difference does it make? After all to do good, to care about the planet, or the poor, or justice i don’t need to be a christian so what difference does it make unless it means being connected to/part of something more than my own concerns/interests?

How would you respond? What questions/thoughts/reflections/experiences does this have for you?

Comments

[Toni]

This is a slightly curious set of questions for me to answer because I don't view myself as a part of current culture, nor do I believe my views reflect typical Christian or pre-Christian views.

The Church has always seemed to me to have been intended to be Jesus with skin on - to represent Him in the society in which it finds itself. At the same time it is very much intended to illustrate the kingdom and rule of God in the way those who are part of the body love and care for each other and those around them. Particularly important the way in which it seeks to bring those who do not know Jesus to do so.

I hope this doesn't sound like a substantial portion of current church practice world (or nation) wide because I don't think it is.

For the second question, I have to ask why caring for the planet is the single cause of greatest importance rather than just another issue that springs out of what we are?

[john santic]

great questions Paul,

the whole paradigm of defining ourselves first as individuals is so ubiquitous and I think we don't fully realize how much we are impacted by it.

i think in regards to your question of church, the sentiment you express is a result of the lack of understanding the bigger salvation picture. I heard it said once that "what you with them with, you win them to." and sadly too much of the evangelism efforts in our time have focused on winning souls. so we in ways perpetuate this problem through our own reductions about the gospel and such.

About identity, unless there is a deep exchange of values in our lives then our identities will remain misunderstood and informed more by the culture of our time, rather than the Kingdom. with deep conversion comes deep realization of who we are all along and can serve to appropriate our worship to God, our true source of life and meaning.

good questions.

[Paul]

Thanks Toni.

I'm interested in where you would locate yourself, Toni?

It is interesting the point you make about the church being Jesus with skin on - if we leave in a world where we are collapsing out of institutions and into individualism does that mean we are in danger of assuming the role of Jesus in our own skins rather than via any group?

I'm not sure that caring for the planet is a single cause of greatest importance just merely one which seems to be growing influence that christians should be concerned with caring for the planet - my point is how we construct our identity i.e. what does it mean to be a christian and how does caring for the planet etc flow out of that idenity.

[Paul]

Thanks John. I agree with you, in our western construct we have a great heritage of philosphical thought that identifies the needs of "the one" rather than say a eastern or global south philosphy which places emphasis on the needs of "the many." Consumerism of course i think acts to enhance this self focus.

If we reduce the gospel to a personal relationship with Jesus i guess we are acting like turkeys voting for christmas - as you say sowing the seeds of our own demise. However i wonder what you would suggest as an alternative?

I like the expression deep conversion (ah my love affair with deep :) - or maybe its ongoing conversion, a process of the Spirit unpicking our own self obsession with self determination which keeps the challenges and challenger to it deliberately small?