The Error of Hyper-Individualism

Adapted from my new book on the Holy Spirit, available in Spanish, still seeking a publisher for the English version. The full chapter is found on this blog.

The forest is haunted by Christian Lone Wolves.

I’m a blogger, and so I have a lot of interaction with other people who write blogs. And I’ve noticed that there is a certain personality type: the Christian who insists – or even, boasts that – he or she is not accountable to anyone in the church, or in any Christian structure. And the idea apparently is that, “It’s just me and the open Bible, and that’s it. And I know hermeneutics! (or) And the church has never been as corrupt as it is today, so they have nothing to show me! (or) The Holy Spirit guides me!” Or my favorite, a humble-brag: “I’m just a simple Bible student (so I must be correct!).” I think it’s not a coincidence, that these are the same people who set dates for the second coming; or who tell the world how the Bible should be translated, without having studied the original languages. And when I have written to them, they sometimes respond with a complete lack of courtesy, because, I am told, there is no one who can restrain them.

Thus, there are evangelical people, who would go ballistic if someone told them they should obey the pope, are in a very real sense their own popes. They may even be on the path to yearning to be like God, knowing good and evil.

This was never the vision of the apostles or the reformers, where the universal priesthood can only function when we are part of a congregation of saints. Where the other saints are not annoyances we need to tolerate, but the body of Christ for us. In fact, it is a contradiction in terms, this idea of an individualistic priesthood: priests by definition must operate with other people.

My own experience has shown the importance of rejecting this “hyper-individualism” in favor of a more biblical stance. On several occasions, I have gone through times when I had hands laid on me or was given some new position. I was “licensed” to preach in 1980; ordained in 1983; made pastor in 1986; installed as a professor in ‘88, teacher again in ‘90 and again in ‘99. I became a missionary in ‘98.

From a certain perspective, I imagine, someone might draw the false conclusion: Well, Gary is now ordained/appointed, so he’s received more authority. But I look at it from the other angle: that, since ordination, I have had less, not more, authority. In my case, with each step, each commission, I have surrendered more and more personal independence and accepted that I am accountable to others. So, at this point I am accountable to: the church that ordained me; my current denomination in the States; two local churches in the States; two mission agencies; two associations of evangelical theologians, whose statement of faith I have to sign every year; Wycliffe Associates, for whom I work part-time; the ESEPA board (Seminario ESEPA is my seminary in Costa Rica); the ESEPA administration; its academic dean; my colleagues; the students; the alumni. When I was a pastor, I was obligated to my congregation, not simply vice versa. I’m accountable at, oh, 15 different checkpoints, and I’ve probably forgotten something! And this, of course, not to mention friends and family. It is not correct, as some seem to believe, that I am “in charge” of my wife’s theology; it is more accurate to say that Karen and I are responsible to one another. Each group or individual has a priestly ministry to me. And each has the right and responsibility to say to me, So, what do you think you are doing? “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48), not only in the age to come, but also right now. With more authorization, there is less individualism, less autonomy, and that is as it should be. There is no place in the forest for lone wolves.

“The Error of Hyper-Individualism” by Gary S. Shogren, Professor of New Testament, Seminario ESEPA, San José, Costa Rica