Individualism, Collectivism, and the Kingdom of God
At the end of February, the pastor of my church stepped down after 18 years to pursue another full-time ministry. Over his career as a pastor he had collected a lot of books, some of which were published in the 19th Century. He offered most of those books to the church. Each week our church librarian set up a table in our Fellowship Hall and laid out over 100 books for anyone to take. My grandson took one of them – a small blue book titled ‘Christ of the American Road’ by E. Stanley Jones (Google him. He was a well-known missionary to India). The title sounded familiar. Jones was also the author of another book I had heard about, but never read, “The Christ of the Indian Road”, published in 1926.
I haven’t read all of ‘Christ of the American Road’, but I have read parts of most of the chapters. It is a fascinating book with some very deep insights. One of the chapters addresses the two end members of human behavior: individualism and collectivism.
“There are then just two great instincts in us: the self-regarding and the other-regarding, the egoistic and the altruistic” (Jones, ‘Christ of the American Road’, pg. 126).
The self-regarding instinct is manifested in individualism; the other-regarding is manifested in collectivism, what Jones calls the ‘herd’ instinct. This instinct is behind the phenomenon of tribalism, and if taken to an extreme, a ‘mob’, like the mobs of the French Revolution.
The self-reliant, rugged individual is a model that most people think of when they think of America. Collectivism is the political and economic model for communism and socialism, and provided the foundation upon which the Soviet Union, China under Mao, Cuba, Venezuela today, and a few other lesser states was based. When the state controls the political and economic structures of a communist or socialist nation, the result is typically a totalitarian dictatorship by a powerful clique and little incentive for the workers to achieve more, resulting in no motivation.
In its truest forms, both individualism and communism reject God. Individualism is defined as “the habit of being independent and self-reliant”, not depending on others. Self-reliant, self-sufficient, self-contained, self-possessed, self-absorbed are also typical of individualism, although some are extremes. However, in America at least, individualism is also synonymous with freedom and liberty. But a self-life is a life lived without dependence upon God. It is an idolatrous life.
Collectivism is defined as “the idea that people should prioritize the good of society over the welfare of the individual”. In practice, history shows that collectivism usually results in the control of individuals lives by the state because the ‘herd’ always need ‘someone’ to lead. The power is either in the state, or theoretically, with the people. God is rejected by society along with the bourgeoisie.
Both individualism and collectivism have truth in them. Scripture captures these two truths in a single verse: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” They each have truth, but only half-truths. Jones again:
“Both individualism and collectivism are half-truths, and life founded on either one of them alone will ultimately go to pieces. Individualism forgets that life is social, and collectivism forgets that life is individual and personal. I reject both of them as ways of life. And yet I would retain the truth in each. How?” (Jones, The Christ of the American Road, pg. 126).
The reality of a life of individualism or collectivism is a life lived in the kingdom of the world. The kingdom of the world has another name – the kingdom of satan. Satan always promises good things, and he always uses these things to enslave those who receive them. For example, in America today some politicians are promising free health care, free college, a government paycheck even if the recipient does not work. Sounds good, especially if you are the one getting the money. But nothing satan gives is free – there is always a hook. And in this case, the hook is bondage, the loss of freedom. The one who gives can tell you what to do, and if you resist, the gifts are taken away. As Scripture says, and I have repeated many times in this blog, “the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy”.
For me, the failures of collectivism are all around us for the world to see, if, as Jesus says, they have eyes to see and ears to hear. The Soviet Union collapsed economically due to low productivity and mass poverty. Cuba, another communist state, was not much better than a concentration camp when we visited in the early 2000s. People were given ration cards which secured them a small amount of black beans and rice each month – nothing more. And if you were caught trying to leave Cuba, you were either executed or imprisoned.
So, if these two instincts are the foundation of human nature, what hope does humanity have? The answer is life in the Kingdom of God.
“The Kingdom of God gathers up into itself the truth of individualism and the truth of collectivism and yet goes beyond each. The end is not compromise, or an amalgam of both, but is a new product . . . In the Kingdom of God collectivism is fulfilled, for the Kingdom of God is a divine society. It is a social order, and that order is completely totalitarian; it demands the allegiance of everything and everybody in the whole of life. (The rule and reign of Christ in my life; I surrender all; anywhere, anytime, anything). While collectivism is fulfilled in the Kingdom, so also is individualism. For the individual in seeking first the Kingdom of God finds that everything is added to him – including himself. As he loses his life in this ultimate allegiance, he finds it again. It comes back to him, released and free” (Jones, ‘The Christ of the American Road’).
The paradox of life in the Kingdom of God is that the more we submit to the King, the more we give up not just the right to ourselves, but every part of our life including life itself, the more free we become.
The Kingdom of God is God’s plan for humanity to live in harmony with their instincts, with each other, and with God. It is the path to individual freedom, joy, and peace, and social structure in which each person is valued (the heart of social justice) because they are made in the image and likeness of God.
Jesus tells us, “Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6: 33).
In the Kingdom of God life is Personal; we are connected to a Person – the omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient Creator of the universe – Jesus Christ. And this amazing, personal relationship is the basis for our collectivism in the Kingdom. He actually lives in our hearts. Jesus in you is the same Jesus in me. We are connected across time and space as our hearts beat together as each heart beats with the heart of Christ.
In my journey through the Christian faith in America, I cannot recall a single sermon on the Kingdom of God. It was not a topic of conversation in the churches I attended, unless I brought it up. And the fact that the Christian faith has split into 100s of distinct denominations (or tribes) that rarely interact, suggests to me that individualism is still the driving force in our Church.
I know where collectivism leads – to economic collapse, poverty, even starvation. Marxism, an extreme form of communism (check out Richard Wurmbrand’s book ‘Marx and Satan’. Wurmbrand is the founder of ‘Voice of the Martyrs’ and makes a compelling case that Marx was a satanist), for many leads to the gulag or the firing squad.
But what about individualism, the -ism we are most familiar with in America. We founded America partly on this principle. Surely, it can’t be as bad as collectivism. Here is a list of some of the consequences of living for ourselves, apart from God:
Here is an obvious one – separation from God, also known as Hell
Finding all of our valve and self-worth in the things of the world, only to find when we examine our lives that all we have left are darkness and emptiness
Nothing in the self-life can provide lasting value, comfort, or safety. We are lost
We give up our birthright when we choose self over God. God intended us to be called His sons and daughters with an incredible inheritance
We live with anger, fear, and anxiety as we open doors into our hearts for the enemy to oppress us
We are helpless in the face of demonic power
We release evil into the world as we strive to have our own way
We place ourselves in bondage to satan, sin, and death
We have no power and no spiritual resources to face pain, sickness, loss, failure, or death
The self-life is a dried- up desert- life where real, lasting joy, peace, and hope are as absent as streams of living water
It is a life in which I cannot accept that I am valuable and loved apart from performance. I believe that I have to perform (actually, I am compelled to perform or die, at least spiritually and emotionally) to find my own value, never mind what others think about me. That life is slavery.
And so, I cannot believe that I am loved or valuable because Jesus says He loves me. “How can He love me? I haven’t done anything to deserve His love”, is the refrain of the self-sufficient and self-reliant man.
I can never have enough to find my value and meaning in life. I always need more. It is a form of addiction – where will my next affirmation come from?
Individualism is idol worship (idolism?) – the worship of self; collectivism is also idol worship – the worship of the group (tribe) or state. And God hates idolatry. I think He hates it primarily because of how it destroys the ones He loves – God loves the world. He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. And that life begins now – it is the exact opposite of the individualism/collectivism life. It is a life of victory over the enemy; a life of power, peace, joy, hope, and faith.
Satan is real, he has real power, but he is a fraud and a counterfeiter. He cannot offer us anything as life giving as the Kingdom of God, so he counterfeits the Kingdom and offers us individualism or collectivism. He tells us, “take your choice, they both lead to a better life”. But he is a liar; ultimately, they both lead to death.
America is currently at war with itself. And at the heart of the war is the clash between individualism and collectivism. A nation is made up of individual people – as the people go, so goes the nation. Jesus died to show us a better way; really the only way if we want to survive in the long term. Will we (you and I) walk in it? Pray for revival!
“And your ears shall hear a word (a voice) behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it”, when (whether) you turn to the right or when (whether) you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30: 21).
Keeping my eyes on Him and listening for His voice,
John