Becoming a Community of Disciples

Chapter 5 Spiritual Teachings – Personal Behavior

Though we are all members of some form of community (family, church, etc.), we do not cease to be individuals. While all monks dress alike, they do not lose their individuality. Thus, just as there are guidelines for the whole community, so there are guidelines for individuals within the community. In contemporary culture social media apps tend to give individuals too much sense of self-importance; that is, I can say whatever I want about whomever I want without anyone’s permission. Ideally, though, individual behaviors should reflect the communities to which we belong. The reason I treat everyone with dignity is because that is consistent with Christian theology. Leaders should resist the temptation to flatten everything out and treat everyone the same. That might work in military boot camps but it will likely fail in most other communities. Wise leaders encourage individuality but limit its potentially sinful expression through clear community guidelines.

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