(I decided to repost this with a picture)

If it surprises you that I would write this, then you need to distinguish metaphysical individualism from intellectual independence and integrity. It might help to read Nevin’s scathing attack on “sects” in his series entitle “Antichrist” where he talks about how much groupthink one gets in American denominations.

What I mean is this:

• If you are hostage to reading long documents or debates about whether or not you can play dress-up with your children on the night of October 31, and get and give away candy, you need to be more individualistic.
• If you are afraid to put a light in a carved gourd outside your house this month, you need to be more individualistic.
• If you are ashamed of bottle-feeding your child, you need to be more individualistic.
• If you feel a need to defend the size of your family, you need to be more individualistic.
• If you don’t want people to know that you let your kids watch TV, you need to be more individualistic.

Et cetera.

I’m fine with people making judgment calls for themselves. And it is good to get wisdom from friends. But you know quite well that the tribal pressure that festers in congregations is on a whole different level. You’re not worried about being unwise. You’re worried about being judged. If that voice is really in your own head and represents your own better judgment, than take steps to change your behavior. But it rarely does. It is mostly just the bizarre anxiety we feel for not fitting into the tribe. And the tribe is always dominated by those who raise themselves by looking down on others. If you think churches are not overflowing with such practices, then you need to repent and go to Church regularly as God commands, because you are obviously not going now.

In fact, it such practices are not restricted to Evangelical Christianity. It is basically in every social group. It is what holds most groups together. Churches should not be like other groups, but they are.

And this is the truth at the congregational level. There is always an undocumented standard that is much more important than anything written. Until people get out of the habit of caving to pressure, the churches will continue to drown in judgmentalism and obscurity.

Be an individualist. Stop fearing your neighbors (and stop giving them reason to fear you). Show some backbone and respect for others.