The downsides of tribalism

Several years ago I "tuned in" to a webinar given by Carol Howard Merritt that was offered by the Alban Institute.  It was based on her then-recent work, and was entitled "Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation."  It was about the relationship of the Church with the younger generation.  Some of the interesting - and, I confess, troubling - things she cited:

·      Six million young adults have left the institutional church in the past several years.

·      Part of the financial realities of this generation is that many students feel fortunate if they come out of their undergraduate education with only $50,000 in indebtedness.

·      18% of college students have never been inside a church!

·      Young adults do not read newspapers.  They get all of their news and information online.

·      How do young adults first learn about a congregation?  Websites!  If you have any money to put into anything, invest it in your website.

Carol said that "'Tribe' is a word that refers to a sub-culture, and that is an apt definition of this generation of young people and young adults."  She is correct, and her observations are ones that we need to consider seriously as we strive to nurture faith in Christ with yet another new generation of the human family.

"Tribes" always have been important to us human beings.  Tribes have helped develop our sense of identity.  Tribes have met our need for belonging.  Tribes have been the cultural unit where teaching and learning take place, where things that are valued are passed on to the next generation.

Many people probably think of native peoples when they think of tribes.  In our area folks most likely think of the Onondaga peoples, or of the Haudenosaunee, sometimes referred to as the Iroquois Confederacy, or Six Nations.

But there are lots of "tribes" in our society, in our culture, in our world, aren't there?  Sociologists often refer to urban gangs as tribes - places where values are taught (albeit not ones that many of us would support!), where people have a sense of belonging, where community exists (even if it is not healthy community).  Folks in the military have a sense of belonging to a "tribe," even if they wouldn't use that word.  In a real way, I think, congregations are tribes.

The challenge for tribes is to be aware of when they cross over into being tribal. In other words, what can start as a group that offers community, purpose, nurture, and belonging, can easily become a group that sees itself as self-sufficient, all-encompassing, and which then alienates others...or at least is not a place of welcome to those outside of the "tribe."

I think that part of the increasingly-divisive and adversarial fighting that goes on in our world and in our society is due to a misguided and destructive sense of tribalism.  If you're a Republican, you want to do anything you can to thwart Democratic initiatives in governing...and vice versa.  If you're a "real" American, you disdain folks who are foreigners.  "Pro-life" extremists view pro-choice folks as evil "baby killers."  And on and on and on.  The gridlock in government is, I believe, due to tribalism in the worst sense of the word.  ISIS is tribalism run amuck.  Fundamentalists - whether Christian or Muslim or Jewish or Hindu or Buddhist or whatever - draw their tribal circles close, with clearly-defined boundaries, and an absolute sense of who's in their circle and who isn't...and anyone who isn't is "the enemy."

So what is it that the Church can offer in this divided, divisive, and contentious climate in which we find ourselves living?  I believe that the Church can offer a sense of welcome.  We might be one of the very few places around where people can come together from across the spiritual, political, and theological divides and join as one body in worship and service.  I believe that the Church can offer a sense of hope.  We Calvinists strongly affirm the fallen nature of us human beings.  However, we also strongly affirm God's providence and God's overarching love and grace.  I believe the Church can offer a sense of support.  People need to know that they are not alone, that others have walked the same or similar path in life, that they don't need to live with a feeling of being isolated and alienated.

Our society desperately needs a place that is not contentious, that is not divisive, that does not label people and judge them by particular stances they take.  Our society desperately needs a place of welcome, a place of hope, a place of support and nurture.  Our society desperately needs a place that can truly be a sanctuary from the hurt and despair and alienation that seems to be the norm of our day. 

It is not an accident that our worship spaces are called sanctuaries.

May they continue to be just that.