As mentioned, the difficulty with some "Western" theology, is that it is less robust. Revelation 3:20 says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." This is one of the few times where the scripture talks about us, in essence, inviting Christ into our life. However, this theological statement, once again, is less than robust by itself. The point of good exegesis is to take the scripture in all its context. The reality is that we are told to, "Invite Christ into our lives," but the truth is that Christ has invited us into HIS life. Which is the larger life, the life where we invite Christ into our smaller individual lives, or where we join in Christ's life? Do we ask Christ to come into our lives and bless what we are doing or do we ask for Christ to allow us into HIS life and for us to be blessed by what HE is doing? Do we receive more power by asking Christ to empower us in our life or are we empowered by being in his life? Christ is united with us, but the bigger picture is that we are united with Christ.
Interestingly enough, Philippians 2 addresses this "being united with Christ" AND does so in the context of in community, humility and not being selfish - among other things. These are the very things that go against individualism. Once again, this is theology in the context of community, not just the individual. The concept of individuals asking Jesus into his or her life, once again, is so very individual and separate from community. Asking for Jesus to invite us into HIS life, gives us the life he was talking about in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and life to the fullest." "They," not "he" or "she". They implies a community, not an individual.
Life in and of The Church is not about the individual, it is about The Body (1 Corinthians 12). Salvation can occur outside the context of community, though it is difficult. Sanctification, however, must happen in the context of community. Community guards against individualism, narcissism, selfish ambition, conceit and all the other things that have been contributing to the steady and continued decline of our culture. Community brings about a more full life of fellowship, joy, struggles, opportunities, giving, receiving, listening, hearing, and so many other things that help us experience "life to the fullest".
We so miss these concepts of full theology and community that, I suspect, if Jesus Himself were to walk into most Western churches or youth functions, few would recognize him. Should we think this impossible, remember the Pharisees and Sadducees did not recognize God though he walked in their presence. And what exactly was it that blinded these devoted and religious "servants of God" to His very presence? It was the fact that these religious people were so into self-righteousness and so exclusive in their religious pursuits that they left many out of The Kingdom. Their community was a very exclusive one. Does this sound familiar to today's denominationalism, segregated Sunday Mornings (by age, denomination, socio-economics, race, etc.), focus on individual salvation at the cost of community?
Finally, the Body of Christ is supposed to be the reflection of community found in the complete community found in The Trinity. This is why we must reclaim an fuller understanding of Trinitarian Theology, community and what it means to die to ourselves (Matthew 10:39, John 12:24). The single seed (the individual) must die to itself in order to produce many seeds (community). This is a message so desperately needed in today's ego-centric, selfish and narcissistic culture.
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