Undividualism
by Laurence Windham

We all know by now that Hillary Clinton's book It Takes a Village was just another politician's attempt to conceal a socialistic agenda in familial language. The proverb, "it takes a village" (before her indiscriminate application) holds truth, however, that the western church has lost.

The whole ethos of village life is based on family, ritual, perpetuity. This ideology is always a communal effort in which every tribe member participates. The same is true of the Church, God's local, visible representation of His kingdom.

Most church members, however, never experience the beauty and benefits of our family, the tribe of God. We have replaced the distinctiveness of the Covenant Village with the busy pace of pagan society. We rush to attend bible studies, worship, choir practice and myriad of other "Christian" activities, but then are left with something significantly less communal, regional and familial than we expect or desire.

What is the problem? The pagan culture incessantly celebrates and promotes the individual. With its advertising and promotion of entertainment, fashions and products, the Great American Marketing Machine divides by age and gender to conquer by flattery or pressure. This has produced a pattern of thinking that drives our society.

Skeptical? Try this test. When was the last time your whole family had a nice, unhurried, conversational dinner'?

• If the dinner was cooked at home instead of pizza delivery- 20 points. 10 points if it was take-out but a parent and child went together to get it.
• For every family member who helped in cooking, setting the table, serving and cleaning up - 10 points.
• For each person absent because of soccer practice, golf, work, etc. subtract 10 points.
• Anyone who left the table early for a TV show, video game, or any other self-interest subtract 10 points.
• For each grandparent present - 10 points.
• For every child's suitor present - 20 points.
• If any of your children have a suitor that has never been over for dinner, forfeit the game. (What is wrong with you?)
• If the head of the home prayed before the meal - IO points.
• If the family sang a hymn before the meal - 20 points. (Sounds goofy doesn't it? Ask yourself why.)
• If there was mutual sharing and/or laughter - 20 points
• If the whole family did something together after the meal - 50 points (and write me, tell me what it was!)

Score: 0-60 SHOOT THE TV. 70-90 Average (you coulda been a contenda). 1OO+ Don't get smug, praise God.

What is happening to the family? Its identity has been absorbed into the culture. We are in the world and of the world. And I've just been talking about eating together for goodness sake. I could have played hardball and asked about family worship.

It is time to be "Transformed by the renewing of your minds." There is hope, but real hope is based on real truth.