The Re-Imagined Community of Holistic
Human Being and Doing
Introduction
In a world where individualism has become the dominant force shaping identities, practices, and social structures, there is an urgent need for a radical reimagining of what it means to be human. The journey from individual autonomy to communal interdependence is not merely a philosophical exercise but a spiritual and social imperative. The self-made man, celebrated in modern culture, distorts the imago Dei—the image of God that reflects our intrinsic relationality. This distortion has its roots in historical and theological forces that severed soul from spirit, body from community, and humanity from its Creator. It is an ideology that has flourished in the soil of both whiteness and the violence of competing religious claims, such as Islam, which, in some interpretations, reflects a return to a violent ethos rejected by the very foundation of Jesus’ message.
The Incarnation of Jesus, God made flesh, represents a profound rejection of this self-sufficiency and individualism. In Christ, God revealed a radically communal vision of humanity: one where the central truth is that we are incomplete without one another, bound together in mutual dependence, forgiveness, and love. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection inaugurated a new kingdom—one marked by grace, peace, and nonviolence, as opposed to the violence and self-interest that has plagued the world for centuries. The radical nonviolence embodied in Jesus’ actions stands in stark contrast to ideologies that rely on force to shape human society and relationship with God.
Yet, this vision is not only theological; it is profoundly practical. A holistic human being and doing must be grounded in the presence of God, living among us—not as an abstract idea or a distant force, but as a palpable, transformative reality. Such a community, animated by the Spirit of God, offers a vision of unity that transcends race, gender, culture, and status—one that rejects the isolating forces of individualism and embraces the dignity of every person as a unique reflection of God’s image.
This re-imagined community seeks to heal the virus of individualism by inviting people into a shared life that mirrors the relational nature of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It challenges every false vision of humanity that separates us into self-sufficient entities and calls us into a new way of being—one that affirms the profound interconnectedness of all people, bound by the grace and love of God. It offers a radical critique of the structures of whiteness, patriarchy, and violence that have distorted God’s image in the world, while simultaneously presenting a vision of radical nonviolence, communal love, and transformation.
In this re-imagined community, the image of God is not an abstract concept but a lived reality, where being and doing are inseparable, and the fullness of our humanity is only realized in relation to one another. It is a community where the task of salvation is not merely a personal journey but a communal pursuit—a collective journey toward justice, equity, and the flourishing of all. This is not just a vision for the future; it is the invitation to a present reality, where the body of Christ is formed, not in isolation, but in the shared experience of God’s love and redemptive presence among us.
In this community, we see a path forward—one that restores humanity to its original intent, rejecting the virus of individualism and violence, and embracing a way of being that reflects the radical love and grace of God in every aspect of life. The journey has already begun, and the invitation is open: to join this communal life and to become a living witness to a world that desperately needs a new way of being and doing.
to be continued...
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