One Body, Many Parts

“12 There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. 13 We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. 14 So the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts.”
1 Corinthians 12:12-14

Individualism, Collectivism, & Faith

Street evangelism used to be one of my favorite things to do with some brothers in the faith during the week after work on Wednesdays or Thursdays. We had conversations with many different types of people from many different backgrounds. And let me tell you… the moments and stories were never dull. Some were sad. Some were entertaining. And some were downright absurd. But all of the stories - and the people who were shaped by them - needed the love and redemption of Jesus.

On occasion I would have conversations with someone who was into some form of African spirituality or another heterodox, pro-black spiritual belief. I was always interested to talk to these individuals because as I grew deeper in my relationship with Christ and started paying attention to more of what was going on in the world and in the church, the more I started to understand how and why they came to their conclusions about their blackness and the spiritual beliefs that had adopted.

“The Black Diaspora has been through centuries of struggle, resistance, and joy since being scattered from our original homelands. And through it all, many of us have connected with those original practices — food, family structures, languages — as a way of healing and building community with each other. The same goes for African and Black Diasporic spirituality, like the Yoruba, Lucumí, and Santería traditions; many practitioners of these religions offer a different type of healing, one that is removed from traditionally Westernized versions, which generally stress individualism and independence. African traditions, instead, are reliant upon collectivism, strong communities, and healthy interdependence.”
“How Some Black Americans Are Finding Solace in African Spirituality” (https://www.vox.com/2020/7/31/21346686/orisha-yoruba-african-spirituality-covid)

Sociology & The Body of Christ

8 months and 2 semesters after I came to know Jesus at Georgia State University, I took a sociology class that was on track with my major. I can’t remember the exact name of it, but my teacher was Korean and I learned about individualist and collectivist societies. Can you guess which one we live in?

In Western societies like the United States, we are considered individualist. “Individualists promote realizing one's goals and desires, valuing independence and self-reliance, and advocating that the interests of the individual should gain precedence over the state or a social group, while opposing external interference upon one's own interests by society or institutions such as the government individualism.” Another definition says, “Some believe that individualism boosts self-confidence, promotes individual excellence and enhances creativity, but it may also lead to resistance to change, lack of cooperation and increased conflicts.“ In an individualist society, community is not completely null and void, but it is not valued as much as it is in collectivist societies.

Eastern societies are more collectivist and “focus on the group’s needs by working together as opposed to focusing on individual needs.” “Common interest rather than personal interest is highly valued and there is a greater incentive to foster stronger relationship between peers.” Collectivism focuses on taking care of people in the whole society, especially those that need help. Though the individual matters, community and the “common good” is more heavily emphasized as is honor and duty to family, community, and society as a whole.

Hyper-individualism does not acknowledge themselves as being part of a group. They believe in ONLY looking out for one’s self without considering others and how they might be affected by themselves and their actions.

Hyper-collectivism does not acknowledge individual choices and autonomy at all. The individual will sacrifice unnecessarily for the good of the group. This shows up in countries like North Korea with the concept of “collective punishment” where if one person commits a heinous crime, they will be imprisoned along with their families. If it’s really bad, 3 generations of their family will be born in and die in prison as a consequence of their individual actions.

A sinful, unsubmitted heart + individualism or collectivism = destruction of self and others.

Which One Is Best?

It was in that sociology class that the Scriptures where Jesus talks about the body being one, yet having many parts and different functions really came to life for me.

I don’t know about you, but as we discussed the ins and outs of each social theory, I asked myself, “Do either of these theories really fit what God has said in His Word? Are we, as devout followers of Jesus, to focus more on the individual or the community?”

“YES."

After asking myself these questions, I came to the conclusion that neither individualism nor collectivism suffice to holistically benefit individuals and societies. This was because neither theory really aligned with how God originally created humanity to function for His glory and our good.

None of us were meant to be exactly like another person nor have our value, worth, dignity, and purpose defined by a human being. The hand is not and will never be the foot. It has unique needs and functionality within the body that it is connected to.

In similar fashion, none of us were meant to function apart from others. The hand and the foot still need each other and the whole body in order to know how they are to specifically function, relate to, and help the rest of the body.

I remember sitting in that sociology class as we were discussing these societal structures and really pondering on what Jesus said regarding the body. “The _____ is unique and has its own function and needs that shouldn’t be neglected, yet it can’t fully operate in its purpose apart from the body that it is connected to and for. BUT, it’s not the body that determines its purpose. It’s the ONE who created the body AND each individual part.”

The hand needs the eye to see that the stove is hot so it won’t get burned. The toes, though small, are needed to provide stability to the foot that helps support the legs when the body walks. And when one part of the body hurts - whether through a paper cut, a burned hand, or actual severance - the rest does too.

We Can’t Do It Without Each Other

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 is a beautifully crafted spiritual amalgamation and balance of individualism and collectivism that I believe benefits the individual person and society.

Wherever you are on your journey with God, know that you have a unique calling in life and place in the Body of Christ and you are needed. Yes, your gifts, talents, and skills are beneficial to others and bring glory to God, but apart from those things, YOU bring glory to God simply because you were created by Him.