Tribalism versus Shepherding

Tribalism is a real problem.  I'm not talking about being proud of your heritage, your traditions, and your family.  I'm talking about tribalism - that which divides.

Too many of us suffer from the innate human condition of tribalism.  Tribal thinking is what causes one person or group to look at another and say "you are inferior."  It causes groups to say "we don't have to listen to you."  It doesn't matter who we are, we can easily get caught up in this.

In fact, I think the church is particularly susceptible to this.  We can easily end up as our own little denominational tribe, with our leader who we follow (the pastor), and our tribal rites (dress, language, habits) that we indoctrinate people into.

Tribalism says: "I am the leader. Do what I tell you.  I've earned this. You must come to me to learn how to think."  And most people happily promote this, because it's how we are wired, bringing others to hear their wise leader, except those who angrily sit and wonder why they are not the tribe leader, or those who, realising they actually need community, leave.

Jesus never said, "Come with me, and I will make you a tribal leader."  He said "I am the Shepherd.  Be continually feeding and caring for my sheep."

The assistant shepherd doesn't look at the sheep and say: "once you've learned to grow the grass yourselves, I'll show you how to eat it."  The carer moves the sheep to the food.  Or brings the food to the sheep.

The assistant shepherd doesn't say: "hey, you're about to be devoured.  Come on Sunday and listen to my sermon and I'll tell you what you're doing wrong and how to avoid being eaten."  The carer says "Crap, there's lion over there, I'd better get off my backside and go kill it."

The assistant shepherd doesn't say to the sheep: "until you become enough like me, I won't spend any time with you.  In fact, unless you come to me, search me out, and agree with me, you're not worth spending time with."  The carer carefully checks on all the sheep, searching them out, making sure they are all there, their physical needs are being met, and goes after the ones who drift off from the flock.

But a lot of us inadvertently fall into tribalism instead, where we frown on tattoos, unmarried couples, people who we think should be taking better care of themselves,  people who are depressed, struggling or lonely and say "well, if they'd just come to church and follow these principles, they'd be fine."  Yeah, the pharisees and religious leaders tried that years ago, and Jesus got pretty fed up with it.    Worldly thinking says, "until you do it right, I can't help you."  Jesus said, "No one will ever get it 100% right. Period.  So I'm walking into your door, and giving you what you are asking for.  Now, go and do the same for each other."

Jesus always addressed the physical need first.  Even with the woman who was caught in adultery.  He didn't say "Why did you not follow these teachings, see what a terrible spot you are in now?" or "Can I give a turkey dinner at Christmas?"  He stepped in and stopped her from being physically killed.   He had a talk with her afterwards about stuff, but not until he'd helped her out of a bad place.

Look, I fail at this stuff, a LOT.  And yet I know people who are really good at helping others. But we must all step out of our tribal mindset, and actually knock on each other's doors, especially those we don't see coming anymore.

Find out who they are, what their challenges are, and roll up our sleeves and ask them what they actually need - someone to visit them, a light bulb changed, a trip to the grocery store, lawns mowed, a drive to the doctor's, a job, or everyone pitching in to help someone pay their mortgage or rent or utilities, so they can stay where they and not go through the trauma of moving and everyone simply expecting they need get their heads on straight and that they'll find another church once they do move...and then (here's the critical part)...

GIVE them the help.  Not once, not twice, but ALL THE TIME.  Just like forgiveness, there is no limit to sharing each others' burdens.  50 or 100 or 200 people sharing the load of helping each other makes the load pretty light.  But what a light in the world the community that does so will be!

Hidden Eclectia

I've been trying to create a cozy office for myself.  And create a bit of style and coziness in the bedrooms. Since we are in a rental (the normal state for many Australians, given the price of houses here), we can't just anchor shelves and pictures to the walls, so a lot of stuff is on the surfaces of other stuff.  A good portion is still in boxes, since our last home had built in shelves in the lounge, and this one is smaller and doesn't.

A lot of my stuff doesn't match.  It hasn't for a long time.  I love matching up floral things (I'm as surprised as you are).  Couches, carpets, cups.  Homey country hangings. Colour coordinated rooms.  And then there are times where I admire the functional, sleek, minimalistic style of decor. Or the really old, dignified antique-filled room.  Or beautiful tiles and tapestries.  But, in spite of my admiration of matching themes and decorator talent, most of our belongings adhere to the Avant Garage Sale school of design. 

So unintentionally, I have created an eclectic style.  A little bit of this, a little bit of that.  Hidden joys, sometimes used, sometimes forgotten, sometimes packed away just waiting to be rediscovered.

My life is like that.  It's pretty eclectic.  There are talents I've used, talents I've found, talents I've yet learn and grow.  My friends are pretty diverse lot, too. And that's probably a good thing.  If we hang out too much with people who are just like us, we lose opportunities to grow, to help, to enjoy.

Life certainly isn't neatly packaged, colour-coordinated and delivered according to schedule, no matter how much we try to make it so.  So open a few dusty boxes.  Enjoy the eclectia.