Tribalistic Christianity
by Tom Gray

I have always, in many respects, been a tribal person. Scouts, church membership, sports teams, clubs, etc. have all been part of my lifestyle at some time or another. This is kind of strange, because I really don't like "joining things". I think the only form of tribalism I have really felt comfortable within has been the tribe of surfers. Some of my very best friends over the last 30 or so years have been surfers. This is a pretty base example of surfing tribalism, but think about this exchange. You and your buddy start paddling for the same wave, he says, "you take it, I'll catch the next one", or, "let's share this one!". Granted, surfers are not all "sharers", in fact many of them are extremely competitive and can be downright hostile in the water. My friends may be the exception to this, but then, we are part of the same tribe. Our tribe is not that interested in being wave hogs, yet sharing the waves and ocean and camraderie together. Surfing brought us together. We hoot when each other grabs a "good one", or has a particularly nice ride. In fact, one member of my tribe offers to take turns. He watches and plays with my son on the beach while I surf, and then I take care of my son while he surfs. Wow. I guess you have to be a surfer to understand how "loving" that kind of friendship is.

What happened to tribalism? You know, across the board, universal tribalism, where different people groups took care of each other's needs, their kids, their old, their concerns? I guess we became too sophisticated for that. My (narrow) understanding of the ouster of tribalism suggests it came about during the Enlightenment. During this time period, man became more independent, more intellectual(?), more focused on their families, and left the concept of caring for those outside of his immediate family behind. Eventually, his independence/intellectualism became pretty much focused on having his own needs met, which is where we are today. Even Christianity has become a group of navel gazers, looking toward the "mystical Jesus", having left behind the "social Jesus". That is not to say there is anything wrong with the mystical Jesus (the one-on-one experience), just that for us to exist within the world as the body of Christ, we must have balance. Jesus did come to "seek and save that which was lost", but also to announce "the Kingdom of God is at hand". To experience the "at handness" can only be done within an ecclesia, a tribe.

Of course, there are still "pockets of resistance" around the globe, still cultures that hold to tribal concepts. Unfortunately, Christian missionaries very often assist them in losing their tribalism as they share with them the "Western Jesus". Very often, the goal of evangelical Christianity becomes counting the conversions, the number of baptisms, vs. creating new bodies of Christ (tribes of Christians) that witness to His life, death, and resurrection. It becomes an "individual experience" solely vs. an invitation to join others of the "Christian tribe" for the adventure in faith. It becomes stick notches, scalps, and wampum to be traded in for stars in our heavenly crowns. The Israelites were a tribal people. Jesus was a tribal person. Our history of the first few centuries of Christianity suggests they were tribal people as well. Is there really no need or place within modern society for tribalism?

I suggest that tribalism is still a valid concept to pursue within modern, western culture; maybe even an essential one as we seek to follow Christ. I believe the tribal concept to be inate. Look at fraternal orders, civic organizations, even kid's club houses. We love to commune with people who share our opinions, ideals, lifestyles, and objectives. Unfortunately, those same opinions, ideals, lifestyles, and objectives are not always ones that Christ chose or would choose. Nevertheless, the desire for that fellowship, that one-anotherness is still there, at least in a shadowy fashion.

Maybe it's worthwhile to consider the benefits of tribalism, today, within the confines of Christianity. In tribal cultures, raising children, food gathering, caring for the aged, dispute settling, "visioneering", building shelters, accountability, worship, story telling (passing on the tribal traditions), and sometimes just listening to each other, becomes the responsibility of the tribe at large. That is not to say that each member takes part in each endeavor, but that each member brings his/her skills to play within the context of the tribe at large. Their survival and continuity is dependent upon each one of the members. You know, this sounds kind of like the "body" that Paul speaks about, doesn't it? Can you imagine becoming "tribal" with a group of people in your community, all dedicated to following Christ, loving God with all that you have and each other as well? You would worship together (including singing together, telling stories of faith together, and praying together), make sure each family had enough food to eat, clothes to wear, and shelter over their heads, settle disputes together thereby holding each other accountable to each other, take care of each other's kids, their welfare and educational needs, older members would be taken care of, and there would always be someone willing to listen, and maybe just hold your hand. Each would serve the other. Everyone's needs would be met.

Needless to say, we can have all these needs met today, but we have foisted these responsibilities onto the state (incl. welfare system), the child care system, the nursing homes, the professional counselors and/or clergy, and the civic organizations. We have allowed the secularization of the body of Christ to the point where we are no longer a viable alternative to what the world has to offer. We have become the world vs. engaging all that is wrong within the world and providing a different lens through which to view the world. Although we still "see through the glass darkly", we have many of the answers. We know what the future holds. Our set-apartness can be seen in tatoos and body piercing; the stripes on His back, and the holes in His hands and feet. Maybe we just need to recapture the other elements of tribalism in order to be the Church that Jesus wants us to be.

------- Addendum -------
Due to the varied responses to this article, I have felt it necessary to make clear some ideas I wrongfully assumed would be taken for granted. I am not espousing a form of tribalism that focuses in entirety upon itself. Many assemblies have become cliques that focus on maintenance vs. mission (small front doors). Likewise, there are churches that focus on evangelism to the point that their membership becomes nothing more than names on a role (large back doors). Here again, balance is in order. We are to be tribal in that we take care of our own, each member bringing their unique spiritual gifts to the communion table for the
edification of all, yet we are not to have a closed door policy. The great commission incorporates mission and maintenance. Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age". As no single man or woman has the mind of Christ, discipleship must be accomplished within the tribal framework as we come together to worship the triune God, learn and teach how to observeJesus' commandments, and invite others into our spiritual journey. We are to be an alternative tribe, one that shows the world what being "truly human" is all about, and be open to accepting all those whose hearts God is working within.

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Tom Gray is a professional potter. In addition Tom writes articles for magazines on theological issues. He is also active in discipleship at his Church, where he has been voted in as "discipleship supporter" for his local county Baptist association, in which he teaches that discipleship is "akin to adoption" and that communion and discipleship cannot be separated. His pottery and other articles he has written can be viewed at www.n2clay.com.

01-2002