Scripture Genesis 2: 15-18; 21-22; and 3: 1-6 Nigel Bunce
Individualism explains the story of the Fall [Genesis 2-3] and the recent “Freedom Convoy” to Ottawa. However, the Christian sense of “perfect freedom” is something very different from licence to do whatever you like. Image: cbc.ca
The Fall and individualism
Like us, ancient Jewish writers were perplexed by why the world isn’t perfect. Surely the Creator would not have made an imperfect world! Therefore, the fault must lie with humanity.
So, the authors of Genesis composed the story that we usually call the “Fall”. The mythical first people disobeyed God’s command not to eat fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The writers named this human fault as “sin”. Sin explained why the world seems to be so chaotic.
But what motivated this so-called sin? I imagine “Adam and Eve” saying to themselves, “Why the heck shouldn’t we eat whatever we want? Why should God tell us what we can and can’t do?” It’s a combination of entitlement, arrogance, and excessive individualism. Exactly what we see around us today. The characters in the story change, but the story remains the same.
A contemporary example of individualism: the “Freedom Convoy”
We can have different opinions about vaccine mandates. Equally, people who disagree with them have every right to protest.
However, blockades are a different matter. Because then “my freedom” has a negative impact on “your freedom”. Such a focus on “my freedom” makes it individualism. All about me. My freedom is so important — actually, I am so important – that it doesn’t matter how much I inconvenience other people.
Looking back, with the hindsight of 20/20 vision we might say that things might have turned out better if the authorities had taken the time to talk to the protesters, showing them respect, rather than insulting them. As Adam Grant quotes in his book Think Again, “Even the devil likes to be acknowledged.”
The Gospels counsel against individualism
However, Scripture tells us, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’. Love – respect – for neighbour does not involve taking over their neighbourhood or honking an air horn day and night. How would the honker feel if someone else did that outside their house? Again, those actions say that it’s my rights that matter. My freedom. Not yours.
Jesus said, ‘In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you, for ths is the law and the prophets’. [Matthew 7: 12].
Canadian law makes us accept limitations to our personal freedom, so as to protect the freedom of others. The obverse of freedom is responsibility. When we talk about our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, perhaps we should make the responsibility side of the equation more explicit.
“In whose service is perfect freedom”
My thoughts went to this phrase. “In whose service is perfect freedom.” It’s part of the Second Collect, for Peace, in BCP Morning Prayer.
O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom: Defend us, thy humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [BCP p. 11]
Is this the “perfect freedom” that the Freedom Convoy demands? No. The words “whose service is perfect freedom” are a free translation of words in an ancient Latin Prayer: cui servire, regnare est. “With whom to serve is to reign”. In other words, it is through service to God that we become free to reign with God, in this world and the next.
This kind of “perfect” freedom is the opposite of individualism. Opposite to licence to do whatever one wishes without considering anyone else.