The Age of ME
I rarely listen to the radio, I download my choice of podcast.
I rarely watch TV, I watch my choice of video online.
I rarely read the newspaper, I choose what news I want and set it up via RSS Feed.
I struggle with a formal learning programme - being told what I should know. I prefer to explore, to choose what I want to learn.
The age of ME is here, anyone wanting to engage the Me age will need to consider the individual: offering convenience, the freedom of personal preference and a suite of possible choices.
This is a tough environment within which to create a community. We are moving away from collective identities to collectives full of individual identities. So from ‘I am Baptist’ to ‘I attend a Baptist Church.’ People are reticent to become too involved. Membership of anything is quickly becoming an old reality.
How then do we create community within this me centered, transient environment? I welcome your thoughts.
Filed under resourcing | |
15 Responses to “The Age of ME”
Leave a Reply
I think you’re entirely right about this. Many folk are what we might term “post-denominational”, as they are tired of the internal conflicts which take place in the traditional denominational structures, or because while they may share certain essential elements of the faith with them, but not others, they can’t really identify with the denomination of the church they attend, and therefore choose not to affiliate with the church in a formal way.
I’m not sure what the solution to this is, but I’m sure that this is part of the problem. I see it here in North America and what one might be tempted to call the Balkanisation of the church due to a lack of unity on secondary issues.
Although we may be in an age of ME, although people may be less likely to buy into a package, whether that be for their holiday, their learning or their church, behind every choice is a real person with needs.
We build community one at a time, by personal relationships which are by definition not ‘one size fits all’. In a fast moving, efficiency driven world, where we are defined by the number on our credit card, our driving licence, our medical records and our insurance policies, people need to matter as people. If we are prepared to spend that most precious of commodities, time, on each person, listening, caring, praying with and for them, community will build. It will probably build around the people who are doing this caring and then little communities will join to become bigger ones. I think that the cell type of structure is the best one. Each cell will have its own characteristics, but many different cells are needed to make a body.
Yes, just like the Rich fool in the bible, a lot of us today only consider what we stand to benefit from what ever we do. little wonder why God’s people are divided today. when we are supposed to take the gospel to the outer most part of the earth with all we’ve got, we are busy talking about our denomination, or worst of all what we personally stand to gain. I wish we all will take a closer look at the parable of the “rich fool” prayerfully. it has a lot to teach us about how we live our life.
…As we go about our daily activity, let us remember that in what ever we do, someday, our soul will be required of us.
If people are looking for resources and contacts on their own terms, create resources and contact opportunities that people will want to connect to. Easier said than done, of course! But that means listening, learning, studying carefully, imagining wildly, and not necessarily getting fixated on community - there may be other kinds of contact or resource that offer more benefit.
I think that it calls, like most things do, to a multi-facetted approach. Firstly, denominations need to look at what defines them as a Church, and realise that the central Gospel message which they share with other denominations is what should be the major emphasis, and less on their particular brand. Secondly, individuals must be encouraged to go to church, and realise that they do not have to agree with every aspect of church to be able to be part of it, and finally, the cell group idea is important as that is where individuals can be best taken care of.
Technology should be employed and things like multimedia presentations should be employed to engage the people. But at the end of the day, we need to encourage individuals - all those me’s to engage with the Lord themselves. One -to - one with the Bible and by themselves.
What worries me is that as we become more self-defining in our life experiences it becomes easier for us to only hear the messages we want to hear. We will only search for ideas that confirm our identity and marketers will market to us in the same way. How will society and people change if we aren’t being challenged by uncomfortable thoughts and experiences?
As I read your blog and the responses made heretofore three things come to mind:
First, we find history repeating itself. During the l9th Century there was a movement in America which touted the “Christian” church ideal rather than denominational delineations. Since, in the end, every church finds itself confronted with the need for a confession of faith, those within that movement, over time, found themselves just another of the many differing groups making up the “Christian church”.
Second, the closing verse of the book of Judges which comes down to us thru the ages: “And everyone did what was right in their own eyes.”
Third, Romans 1’s description of a me-focused society which remarkably parallels our own today and the chilling words, ” God gave them up……”
The good thing, Mark, is that while ME may be the focus for the moment, it’s just as likely to become US at a point down the road. Things in human history seldom stay the same for long, and people who want to be all individual at present are likely to find just how unsatisfactory that is in the near future, and begin to want to be communal again. Humans have an inbuilt need for relationship, even though it seems as though the forces of the present time seem to be against that.
I hear that there are a number of young people in the world who now regard altruism as more important than Me-ism, so I don’t think everyone is Me-focused. And then, of course, there’s the ever-increasing number of old people; they’re statistically credited with outnumbering young people in the next decade.
And they have a slightly different attitude to life…!
how to build community i think was the question? not easy. the only way in seems to be to find a bunch of “me’s” all headed the same direction and try to go on a journey together. many will give up or peel off because something offended their sensibilities. some will not be able to give up the time to be part of someone else’s life or journey. a few will discover though that there is something between them that binds them together. work with those, find more “me’s” going the same direction as they are… am i being cynical about the process?
Our society lacks personal relationships which feeds the ME attitude. Unfortunately, that attitude doesn’t change, many times, until something tragic happens and then we need other people. I think a big part of this is that we have not fully surrendered our hearts to the Lord. We hold back a part of us that keeps us from fully opening to others pains and hurts, and keeps us as apart, meeting only with that typical Sunday morning smile and greeting.
Many of us, if not all, have things in our past that cause deep pain, or unforgiveness, or both. This keeps a part of our heart unavailable to God. (I’m not saying that God can’t but that God gave us free will, and it’s up to us to give that to Him) Each time we give something up to Him, and truly allow God in to show us the root of our unforgiveness, or the cause of some sin, etc., he pulls it out by the root and fills it with more of His love.
The more of our heart we have truly surrendered to the Lord the more we “feel” others, desire to help, to be with God’s people, to have that fellowship, to build those relationships. We then follow His will to serve, which automatically brings us to the presence of others and out of the ME.
Just some thoughts……
Simply create an environment were people can search for other people based on interests, and facilitate them connecting to each other.
[…] Blog post about reaching people in this me centered world http://brownblog.info/?p=929 […]
It is NOT about me, it is about Christ, and the life He gave for us. It is NOT about me, it is about God the Father, who called my name before He place me in my mothers womb. It is NOT about me, it is about the Holy Spirit given to guide, convict, and speak into me the truth, when I might faulter.
It is NOT about me.
It is ALL ABOUT HIM! GOD REIGNS!!
I love your facebook page. Reading the verses everyday is great. Keep up the good work.
http://alzheimersandmomblog.blogspot.com/
visit my blog. It is not very good but I just started it.