Individualism devouring community
The OT was well aware of the existence of the individual
and religion was as personal in the OT as it is in the NT. The
"individual" was "discovered" several times in European history and it
really came home to the Christian religion at the Reformation; but it
was in Post-Reformation days that "individualism" began to grow into the
destructive virus it now is. The OT kept individualism in check by its
focus and constant stress on the community, the nation of Israel, and
even tribal independence in its extreme forms (seen in the book of Judges) is exposed as detrimental to everyone's welfare.
Oppression and injustice feeds the cause of
"individualism," whether in or outside religion and an over-stress on
"personal" religion undermines the sense of oneness and interdependence
within the Church.
The ceaseless stream of "personal religion" and
devotional books by authors and publishers feed this unhealthy hunger,
this greed for "what's in it for me and mine?" material. "What's in it
for our congregation?" Even the books that call for personal
holiness (and how can you criticise what is absolutely essential—Hebrews
12:14?) tend to fragment us into individuals in pursuit of holiness; as
if we weren't "a holy nation" and "a people" called out of darkness to
proclaim his marvellous light! No wonder there's so much
"church-shopping" going on; no wonder congregations have become branches
of a supermarket chain and no wonder commitment to the Congregational
expression of Jesus Christ is at such a low ebb.
The OT in general and the prophetic voices in particular constantly called the people to remember their national history and not their history as individuals. Israelites were individuals within a redeemed nation
and not a collection of individuals pursuing their own individual moral
improvement. They each had a personal and individual relationship with
Yahweh but they didn't have it independent of the nation! Christians
each have a personal and individual relationship with God in Jesus
Christ but they don't have it independent of the body of Christ!
We cannot despise or dispense with "the body of Christ" and please the Lord Jesus Christ!
He will not have it