City of Grace Mesa

I recently saw Cloverfield, the monster movie with the funny name. You may have seen the commercials in which the head of the Statue of Liberty ends up on the streets of New York City. It is meant to appear as if it was shot entirely by one personal camcorder.

The main thing that struck me about this movie was its perspective. Most monster or great catastrophe films show how the creature, tornado, flood etc affects individuals and also the extended community. Usually many people work together to defeat the problem. This movie, however, primarily only showed how it affected a handful of people. It gave no clear origin of the creature, affect on the country or ultimate solution to the problem.

As Pastor Terry was preaching recently about the “I” Chair and how we spell Wii with two I’s, I was reminded about how our culture and our churches have become focused more on “I” rather than “we.” We have become isolated from our neighbors and our community in many ways. We have become disconnected from others around us and connected to the world through the TV. We know more about the lives of celebrities, such as Brittany Spears and American Idols, than we know about our next door neighbors. Many of us are separated from our extended families and have limited support systems when difficulties in life happen.

The world has different types of cultures. In the west (Europe, Canada and the U.S. for example), we tend toward more of an individualistic and guilt-based point of view. We honor individual rights and choices. In the east (Middle East and Asian countries), the tendency is toward community and shame-based point of view. Decisions are made to save face or to honor one another. Churches tend toward seeker-sensitive or maturing believers. Other churches tend toward individual holiness or the “social gospel.” Let’s be both/and and not either/or.

We see both of these perspectives in movies. In the Star Trek movies (As I reveal what a nerd I am) two phrases are quoted. In Star Trek II, Spock sacrifices himself for the ship and says, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one.” In Star Trek III, the crew sacrifice themselves for Spock and say, “The needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many.” In Saving Private Ryan, we see many men sacrificing themselves for one soldier. We also see many individuals sacrifice their lives for the good of their country and their world.

In the Scriptures, we see both perspectives emphasized. We are called to individual righteousness and holiness. We are also called to be concerned about social justice issues and the needs of others who are less fortunate than we are (Matt 25:31-46; Luke 4:18-19). James 1:27 states, “Religion that our God and Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (Both/and)

We are called to have an intimate and individual relationship with our God, but we are also called to live in community and to not forsake the gathering together of ourselves (Heb 10:25). It is Christ in you (plural – y’all) that is the hope of glory (Col 1:27). We are called to love one another, spur one another on to love and good works and to confess to one another. Together, we are the body of Christ representing Christ to the world and sharing his message of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:16-21).

I encourage you to do both/and and not either/or. Seek God with all you heart in prayer and the Word of God. Join a LifeGroup and be part of a small, supportive community. Begin serving in church and your neighborhood. Share the good news of Christ and your lives with your neighbors (1 Thes 2:8).

Rick Barnes -