Class 3 (Feb 18): Individualism

What makes individualism such a temptation to Christians is that this philosophy is woven into our cultural fabric. Individualism's influence on Christians is apparent in the often-heard statements like, "My faith is between God and me," "My religion is a personal thing," or "I believe in God. I don't need to go to church." While Christianity embraces the truth that Gid is interested and involved in each of our lives, individualism takes this to such an extreme that it ceases to be Christian truth. In this class we take a closer look at the convictional beliefs behind individualism, the truths in this worldview and the perversions that make individualism so attractive. (p29, Hidden Worldviews).

• Click here to download the two-page class outline (with discussion case study).
• Click here for the audio recording of the class.
• Click here to download The Ten Seasoning Principles bookmark.

Please post your questions, comments, and suggestions as we progress through this journey together on engaging today's cultural narratives. You can also reach us at:

• John Sittema, johns@uptownchurch.org
• Joseph Tan, joseph@uptownchurch.org

Lesson summary:

1. Community is esse not bene-esse, essential not merely beneficial: We are created for relationships, will only flourish as live in community for His glory and to love/bless others.
2. In the letter to the Hebrews, the author used the word "you" 31x, out of which 1x is addressed to the individual while 30x it is used in the plural, addressing the community of believers. As Christians, we are called into a community, not into individualistic lives.
3. We are created for community with God and others, responsible together under Him.
   Shalom: Harmony/flourishing is possible only when Creator/creation roles honored, celebrated.

Food for thought:

When individual liberty is our primary value, we identify obstacles to fulfillment as something outside us (e.g., other people, mass culture, government restrictions) rather than internal deficiencies in our character. In other words, goodness is not obtained by internal transformation, but by rearrangement of external circumstances.

Resources recommended:

• Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives, by Steve Wilkens and Mark L. Sanford. Consider purchasing a copy (but it is not required).
• Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin, by Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.

The Transformation Model (The inside-out approach to engaging worldviews)