Published on April 2, 2024, 1:12 am

In today’s secular world, many grapple with profound questions like ‘Who am I?’ and ‘Am I just a fleeting result of random forces?’ These enquiries stir up anxiety especially among the youth. Christian institutions and educators have over the years strived to provide believers with confidence in their identity in Christ.

Observing current trends, there appears to be a noticeable decline in commitment levels within numerous churches compared to previous times. This lack of engagement is reflected through the fading attendance of evening services, shortage of younger participants, inadequate volunteering for church responsibilities such as children’s programs or elder roles, and even hesitance among Christians to become official members of the church.

I direct this message primarily towards pastors: This lack of dedication within your congregation might not necessarily be your inadequacy. Contemporary life pressures might contribute towards this situation as most jobs stretch beyond traditional working hours into an almost 24/7 scheme. The popular therapy culture also plays its role by encouraging people to prioritize self-care and family before community involvement.

A significant driver behind this dilemma can be linked to our society’s infatuation with individualism – described by some sociologists as ‘the century of the self,’ characterized by personal freedom and individual progress often amplified through digital technology. However, this does not suppress the desire for community interaction but instead promotes a version of community with limited obligations or responsibilities.

Churches should boldly confront this rising trend of individualism by teaching biblical perspectives on community versus individuality. A cursory analysis suggests that while Scripture highlights the importance of individuals, it advocates fulfilling one’s true potential within a communal setting.

Numerous Scriptural instances reveal God valuing both individuals and communities equally. For instance, the creation narrative portrays humans (singular and plural) created in God’s image indicating that fulfillment comes through interacting with others rather than isolation. Yet sin spurred distrust and broke apart said communities throughout human history.

Jesus Christ exemplified this principle by providing blessings to individuals while incorporating them within the community of God’s people. His miracles helped reintegrate social outcasts into society, reinforcing both personal and communal importance.

The apostle Paul also emphasized this in Galatian 2:20 – establishing Christ’s atoning sacrifice for individual redemption, but he also stressed that Christ loved the church collectively (Ephesians 5:25). This confirms that part of Jesus’ mission was to rebuild communities that had been fractured due to sin.

The early Christian church marked an era where because of the outpouring of God’s Spirit, a fresh community was birthed signifying unity. Given this overview, it becomes essential for the modern church guided by a Christian worldview to instill similar values in believers today.

To conclude, it becomes our responsibility as carriers of trusted news to shed light on matters like these which impact our congregations deeply and promote a more accurate narrative founded on real news influences from the Scripture.