INDIVIDUALISM - ENEMY of THE CHURCH - by A. Strom
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
by Andrew Strom
We live in an utterly individualistic and "self"-oriented age today.
I'm sure few would disagree. Every advertisement appeals to
'self' in some way. We are taught from childhood to be completely
self-contained, reliant on no-one, living in our own little bubble
where we decide exactly what will take place. We are often
frightened to commit to any particular group or cause, any
particular leadership. The modern man is an "individualist" to
the core. "Don't ask me to join or commit! And don't tell me how
to live my life!"
But all of this, of course, is the exact opposite of "Body". It is
the exact opposite of 'Community'. And thus the exact opposite
of the true Church. And yet millions upon millions of Christians
today (especially in the West) are just as "individualistic" as
the next man. Sometimes even more so.
As noted previously, the very first sentence used to describe the
early church says: "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles'
doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
(Acts 2:42).
That is the very picture of a BODY - not a pile of "individualists".
They have GIVEN themselves to a group and a cause - a group
with real LEADERS who are anointed preachers from God. But
it is almost anathema for a modern person to give themselves
to any group in such a way. We are far too suspicious and
individualistic and untrusting to ever do such a thing. And thus
the question must be asked: Is it even possible to have true
"BODY" in our day? Is "CHURCH" (in the true sense) even a
concept that we can understand? Or have the media and our
entire culture so "individualized" us that true 'Body' is no longer
possible?
You know, Christianity is not designed to be lived out by a pack
of "individualists". And half-committed "building-attenders" on
Sunday mornings are not it either. Christianity is designed to be
lived out CORPORATELY - the "Body of Christ" - an entity that
can be seen and observed by people - full of the glory of Jesus.
A Body that corporately carries all the words and power and love
and miracles of the King.
So how on earth can such a "gathering" take place? How can
the scattered remnant of today come together to form such a
Body? Well, it all starts with the anointed "word". You notice
in the above verse that these people gathered around a very
specific thing - "The apostles' doctrine and fellowship". It is
an anointed apostolic "word" being preached that is a crucial
element in all this. From such a 'word' everything else follows
and comes into alignment.
But the big question is- Could today's "individualistic" types
bring themselves to form a real 'Body' - even if such a word
was being preached? Or is individualism so ingrained that
even 'apostolic' preaching might not bring this about?
These are questions that every one of us should be asking
ourselves if we ever hope to be part of a true movement of
God in these Last Days.
-PLEASE COMMENT on this topic at the following website-
Blessing to all! - Andrew Strom ( prophetic@revivalschool.com )