Do American Christians Suffer from Main Character Syndrome?

Americans are known for their rugged individualism.  But our value of individualism and wanting to be at the center of every narrative can derail our efforts to follow Jesus.  In this episode, we examine the ways that our culture – and even our churches – have reinforced the idea that we are the main character in our worship and in our reading of the biblical narrative.  We discuss how this focus on ourselves shows up in subtle and not so subtle ways, and our discussions seeks to show how inserting ourselves at the center robs us of the richness found in being an integral part of the united people of God.  Our affirmation is that Jesus is the main character of the scriptures and of all of cosmic history, and that finding our true place as part of His body is an important part of following Jesus as our Lord.

Discussion Questions:

Is individualism an American value, and have you ever considered how it differs from the more collectivist way in which the scriptures are addressed to the people of God?

Have you observed the tendency to have corporate worship turned inward to address the individual?  Is there an irony in the fact that worship intended to be congregational and sung together to the Lord ends up being mostly about our experiences and emotions?

There are times that a personal expression of our worship or prayer to God is best expressed in music.  How do we encourage personal and individual worship without inadvertently making us the focus of worship?

How did you react to Monique’s observation that so much of our preaching focuses on the individual and communicates a message that God has a plan for every individual person that is unique and distinct?  Is that difficult to hear?  Is there something refreshing in knowing that God’s will is abundantly expressed in scripture, and that it is not something we have to “find” for every unique circumstance we might face? 

Did it surprise you that Jeremiah 29:11 was written to a people being taken into captivity, and applied to future generations, and that it might not end well at all for the people hearing the prophesy?  Does that change the way we understand this verse and urge caution about the way we apply it to our individual lives?  Has this been a verse that you have relied upon?  If so, what has it meant to you?

Where does that idea that we should read ourselves into every Bible story come from?  Is it something that you recall being taught?  Is it something that was communicated in some other way inside or outside of the church communities you have been a part of?

Why has so much of our preaching become rooted in self-help and sound so therapeutic?  Have you noticed the tendency to adopt a form of preaching that ends every sermon with steps to make the story applicable to the details and circumstances of your individual life experiences?

Are you someone who has been tempted to believe that if you just had significant success or notoriety in your field that it would provide a platform that would allow you to point people to Jesus?  How would that platform be used, and are there downsides to the culture we inhabit and its focus on platforming influencers?