Individualism In Christianity

Christianity and individualism are far from ideological opposites, although a misunderstanding of individualism may be falsely perceived to conflict with Christianity.  Individualism is the position that individuals are free to express their own personalities that make them unique, an ideology that emphasizes the worth of people as individuals and not as members of some group (like collectivism, which is more prominent in Asian cultures).  It acknowledges that 1) people are different, 2) that all individuals have rights, and 3) that the metaphysical value of an individual is not defined by group function.  This, in itself, has nothing to do with promoting selfishness and lack of concern for others.  Individualism is actually woven into Christianity far more than some might think, particularly in the areas of salvation and moral rights.

Christianity definitely emphasizes strong community, as many passages clearly show.  No one can read the Old Testament and New Testament objectively without seeing that God created humans to be social beings--God said that it is not good for a person to be alone--and that the strengths of individuals can be synergistically amplified in group collaboration, as community is a tool that can reflect God's glory.  But Christianity is also a religion about each individual on the personal level, and it is purely on an individual level that a person can embrace spiritual restoration, for no affiliation with a human group determines whether someone will go to heaven or hell (being in the church doesn't make someone saved; being saved gets someone in the church).  It is only on the personal level that one can have a relationship with God; no other person can make me have a right standing with him.  Christ died for the world (John 3:16, 1 John 2:2, Romans 5:8).  But in doing so he died for each individual.

Likewise, the source of human rights is the fact that each individual human bears God's image, not the whims or decrees of any government.  No group decision nullifies the value of each individual.  What is not invented by humans cannot be rescinded by humans.  Regardless of the group that denies individual rights, regardless of the size of that group, objective rights remain objective rights.  Moral rights are another area where readers of the Bible can see individualism appear in Christianity.  Groups have rights only by nature of being comprised of individuals who have rights as God's image bearers.

God revealed the moral obligations that govern interaction with other people.  Still, the Law provides great freedom for individuals.  The command of Mosaic Law to not add to the Law (Deuteronomy 4:2) leaves it up to each individual person to engage in or not engage in non-sinful practices at will, the preferences of others totally irrelevant.  Individuals are free to live as they please as long as they do not violate the objective moral obligations that are rooted in God's nature, which are revealed solely in the Bible, not by the natural world, conscience, societal standards, or preferences.  The Bible most certainly honors individual freedom, but not freedom to sin (1 Peter 2:16).  Theonomy honors individualism just as the doctrine of imago dei does, for where there is no sin men and women may act as they please.

Individualism is not, as some might think, a cancerous philosophy that inevitably results in selfishness and intentional isolation from others.  While some may use it in such a way, this says nothing of the concepts of individualism themselves, only how some misapplied them.  On the contrary, individualism is simply true.  People are different; people have rights irrespective of belonging to various groups and cultures; individuals can do what they like as long as they do not sin; it is only on an individual level that a person can have a relationship with God.