Chapter 3(b) – Call to Community
Dispatch 8 – Emergents find the biblical call to community more compelling than the democratic call to individual rights. The challenge lies in begin faithful to both ideals.1
In this final segment of Chapter 3, Tony goes into some dialogue about emergent’s relationship to politics of the day. He begins with an introduction to the two-party system and its deficits, especially to emergent’s who seems to be unplottable along the two-party line, neither appearing predominantly left or right (or anywhere in-between).
He then brings up the notion of unalienable individual human rights, the foundation for liberal democracy, and the good that has come of this equitable system of government. He then addresses where this political/governmental view has influenced modern thought and driven many to include this type of thinking to consumerism and religion, specifically the reading of the Bible. The problem lies not in the concept of individual rights but in the misinterpretation that drives rampant consumerism (I have the right to own an iPod!) and misguided theological dogma.
The Bible does not exhort us to protect self, but instead to sacrifice the self.2 And bring in the reality that both the Hebrew Scriptures and the Letters to the churches, were not written to the individual but to a community. I would challenge you to read the book of Ephesians in the context of a community rather than from the perspective of “me.”
Tony then introduces us to Stanley Hauerwas, a theologian whose work on pacifism has coined the term – a Hauerwasian position. Many Emergents seem stuck in a no-man’s land: on the one hand, they’re committed to a deep, political engagement in American society, but on the other hand, they vow not to be co-opted by a political party.3
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1. The New Christians by Tony Jones; p. 81
2. Ibid, p. 81
3. Ibid, p. 83
My thoughts:
Individualism, specifically in the reading of the Bible – ”This individualistic interpretation maybe the cornerstone for Christian apathy, anger and loneliness, when pushed to a self-serve Gospel, many become frustrated to the fact that they have no one to share it with.”
Political Action – “This is where Tony seems to come up short. I wish he would have delved into the social action side of the emergent movement (though he may do this later). But he takes an acedemic stance and just describes the overarching tendencies of thought, rather than specific examples… and he does not talk much more about the Hauerwasian position, leaving it up to the reader to research, for more info on Stanley Hauerwas click here and on others thoughts on him click here.
Community – “Again, Tony introduces the topic of community but does not go into a lot of detail on the implications of emergents in community (I think this is on purpose, in later chapters he introduces us to a few different emergent communities in case study form. It is important that emergents are classified as a community rather than a individually driven organization, as in discussion – one perspective is not discussion, it is lecture.”
I am enjoying this book, and am a few chapters ahead (in reading), so expect some more reviews forthcoming… enjoy the day!
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I have been dealing with these problems of individualism for a long time now as well on my blog and in my own life. I sold my iPod because I thought it was too consumeristic and my TV (I would have sold the other TV that I have as well if my roommates wouldn’t kill me). I have found it more helpful to read the news than watch in on Television, and it has given more time to read blogs and interact with others.
I want to see a church that is based in community not in part, but in whole. I am not really an emergent, but I have emergent tendecies, and I think that Jones has hit it right on the money. As Christians, we really don’t have any rights. If someone wants something we are supposed to give it away. If our brothers are suffering, we are required (not really required, because Christians believe it is a privilege) to suffer with them.
Good thoughts.
I look forward to future reviews of the book as I am too poor to buy it myself.
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