Just a Product of the System?

No matter what religious institution we come from or are a part of, I believe it’s important to ask yourself: “Am I just a product of the system, or do I have my own convictions?” It sounds simple enough, but it’s something I feel looking back on my own experience that it’s a crucial question to ask, and you never know when you’re convictions and beliefs will be tested.

I should say it’s a given that we’re all influenced by society, by whatever social groups we’re part of as well as friends and family around us but discerning what we believe and why we believe is a part of the maturing process and it’s a safeguard against being sucked into the sort of politics that can turn ugly. I might add, I believe this can apply to anything: religion, politics, academic beliefs, martial arts -any institution built around a set of serious beliefs.

 

Just towing the line can feel safe but what happens if you’re being led up the garden path? What happens if you suddenly see through the leaders who you thought were the ants pants? What happens if you become a victom in political struggles of the group? (You may happen to make another member feel threatened etc…) What happens if the group dwindles away after enjoying success, or the top dog turns out to be a fake? How will you deal with these things and how will they affect your core beliefs?

 

Here are some of my own ideas on the signs of becoming a “product of the system”. Of course you may think of others:

 

-You just learn the cliches to be accepted rather than do your own homework on your own beliefs. (It’s easier to just be politically correct within the group, do you do your own study in your own time?)

 

-You stay in the group because it meets your social needs rather than being in the group because of your beliefs while enjoying fellowship with like-minded people.

 

-You’re smitten by personalities in leadership rather than making an educated judgment about leaders as to why you support them (and being aware of both their strengths and weaknesses). You may even be caught up in a cult of personality. 

 

These are things that may not be easy to discern when you’re in a group or joining, and they’re things I’ve thought of with 20/20 hindsight, because I’m definitely guilty of being a product. Often we learn the hard way, but I’ve also thought of some ideas on how to safe guard against being a product of the system:

 

-As previously mentioned, do your homework. Research and read. Be discerning. You can be open, but don’t be gullible or susceptible to salesmen techniques. If you’re going to buy an expensive item, you do your homework, compare features and prices, look at the quality and how it will meet your needs. Often with a political or religious group, they may have been proactive in inviting you -don’t just be passive, do you’re homework, because in effect they are asking you to invest time and money in their group (whether a church, a martial arts group or a political party) and over time that could cost you much more than buying a computer or a car, not to mention the emotional cost involved.

 

-If you’re in a group, be willing to take time out, whether it’s a week or a month. You may be criticised for lack of commitment or something, but if you feel you’re being swept away, I think you need time out to focus on what you believe and why you believe it. You may feel you need perspective and objectivity, but how can you obtain that unless you have time out? Hopefully you can come to a good arrangement where the group leader is understanding.

 

(Side note for me having been in the ICOC, this could be a kind of a touchy issue. The belief was that being away from the group was like an ember away from the fire, if it was away too long then it might die out. Furthermore, there are temptations in the “world” and there was a lot of persuasive literature opposing the ICOC’s beliefs and practices, so for young Christians it was often discouraged if they would be away from the group too long. The adverse affect of this was that it could put enormous pressure on people, making them feel claustrophobic, and it’s probably one reason why so many people left anyway. Hopefully, whatever church or group you’re part of, it’s not going to be a major issue.)

 

-Don’t let your beliefs be tied to leadership or the stability of the group. I guess this takes an understanding that all systems and leaders will have flaws -it may be something you need to remind yourself again and again. In my experience in the ICOC in the early days, looking up to personalities like Kip McKean and World Sector Leaders verged on idolitary. In many ways they were inspiring people at the time, but if you get carried away you go down a dangerous line of thinking. You fail to see the merits of Christians outside the group, and you fail to see you’re own pride and arrogance by being part of the group. You hang on to every word of every sermon preached by these leaders and though you won’t say it out loud, you think they’re infallible. And then when it turns out they’re flawed or the group system falls apart, where will you’re beliefs be? Will you feel you’ve wasted your time, money and effort?

 

Perhaps a practical exercise is to ask yourself: “If this group or this leader falls (is exposed in wrong-doing, loses his or her belief, just quits etc…) will it affect what I believe? Will I still feel like I’ve learnt a lot? Will I still feel like I’ve benefited? Or will I feel like I’ve invested in a company and the shares have gone bust?

 

(I know I’ve used my experience in the ICOC as an example, but this post isn’t focused on ICOC or ex-ICOC or SOD churches in their present situation. It seems now that every church has its unique condition and issues. But this is what I’ve learnt, and I feel that despite mistakes I’ve made and times I have been lead up the garden path, I still have my beliefs in Christianity and the bible and that’s what’s important.)

 

Also, a side note about Christianity in general. I believe that protection of the gospel is about teaching Christians to base their beliefs on the gospel (and not the group). Hebrews 6:14 says “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” It’s not enough to just become a Christian and be part of the group. Growing in conviction means distinguishing good from evil. In the basics this may sound easy -killing is evil, giving to the poor is good… but when caught up in church politics, it’s not so easy to distinguish good from evil. It’s not so easy to distinguish who’s being critical and rebellious, and who’s opposing a leader because they’re contrary to what is right. But if you’re just a product of the system, how will you be able to make these kinds of judgments? You’ll be the reed tossed and turned in the wind…

 

Last note: you are responsible for your own life. No leader, preacher, instructor etc is going to personally take responsibility for your life and how you spend your time and money.