“Social existence involves and depends on a shared consciousness, a shared system of meanings. This shared system of meanings is structured by symbols that shape or express the understanding of reality, of space and time, of human being and its authenticity, of life and its goods, of appropriate relations, roles, customs and behavior, symbols which together constitute the unique gestalt, the identity or uniqueness, of that social group. To be a member of any community is to be aware of, to participate in, and to be oneself shaped, energized, and directed by this common symbolic mythos.” - Brian J Walsh Worldviews, Modernity and The Task Of Christian College Education
As I was reading this article on worldview, it challenged me to consider the power of the gospel within a communal context. So often the focus is on how Jesus death saves the individual from eternal damnation (which may just be an excuse for pious Christians to say the word damn) but how does this story impact the very fiber of our community? Since Protestants have gone so far away from the holy sacraments, which are a type of common symbolic mythos, what is the story and common mysterious symbols that are not logical or legalistically driven but are a part of joining in a story bigger than ourselves. If this quote is an accurate picture, than the common symbolic mythos that we embody and celebrate become the core of our identity.
I am just not sure what exactly those are in our current day, specifically at a mega-church style community which I am a part of.
6 comments:
The common ground of communion (1 Cor. 10) and baptism (Rom. 6) biblically declare and display our unity with out faith.
The modern church (whether seeker-sensitive, progessive, emergent, liturgical, or whatever) has followd a troublesome path that mirrors that of the American and Eurpopean society... individualism.
Take a look at the last time you were a part of communion. Besides the possibility of everyone taking the elements at the same time, what was there to point out the community aspect of it?
Take that same thought and apply it to the last baptism you witnessed in a corporate setting.
I know I'm not answering your question, but I'm trying to point out a detrimental factor the question you've asked.
Individualism is an enemy of the Church.
(the first paragraph in my post should read "... biblically display our unity with our faith".
Oops.
Kurt,
if you want to borrow "Myth of a Xtian nation", I'm done with it. You can borrow it. seriously. I'm not kidding, you can borrow it...because I'm done.
do you want to be friends?
Hmmm.
Well I don't really have anything to add except a book that speaks to this subject. John Howard Yoder has a book called "Body Politics." I read it this summer and it has caused me to do a lot study on the sacraments and a few other rituals scriptures mentions.
He focuses five things:
reconcilliation (binding and loosing), eucharist, baptism, the multiplicity of gifts (the Fullness of Christ) and open meeting (the Rule of Paul).
His contentino was based on a the communal roots and function of these things in scripture and today. I found it to be powerful and it has impacted my view of the church and the things I'm inovlved in forming.
All this to say....going off of Sam's comments on individualism....this is a source that taught me a lot about what we can share that forms us.
To add a little context to my comment. Baptism is really about identity into the community of faith...it's about people holding you to a commitment that you really have no clue what it means for your life (it's like witnesses at a wedding - I mean do you really grasp what 60 years of marriage means-how could you?)
Eucharist in scripture is more of a social evening reality Yoder argues. Many times they would sit down to a meal in the early church and say ok who has needs and how can we meet them. It was an unifying act to all sit down on the same level and share a meal together. Isn't that what Jesus is doing with all types of people in the gospels?
The book got me thinking about everything we do and how more of it can be a communal act.
but theres a difference between what should be and what is, so i am wondering what is in our church our mythos and symbols, like small groups as an understanding of the kingdom and community
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