“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.” – Acts 4:32
A Cambridge article notes the difference between what is perceived as the greatest good between Western and Eastern thinking. (1) In a Western mindset, personal achievement is valued over group success (e.g., family, community, church, or religion).
This explains why people in the West tend to skip parts of the Bible, like genealogies, and tend to read the Scriptures searching for personal applications that can help them succeed in life. They generally don’t give as much attention to what the Bible says about extended family, the broader community, or the thriving of their local church or global missions.
Conversely, the Eastern mindset and Asian countries tend to be more collectivist, with a greater concern for how everyone in a family, community, nation, or religion is faring.
As you study Hebrews, you will see that when the Old Testament Church was functioning and healthy, the commitment to the greater good of the nation, all of God’s people, and future generations leading to the coming of Christ was prominent.
This is entirely different than our Western world, where there is little to no commitment to nation, church, family, or community, as everything has been swallowed up in the individualistic pursuit of personal success.
Tomorrow’s devotional will look at the highest source of authority according to Western and Eastern thinking.
What is your current level of commitment to your family, church, and community?
(1) https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170118-how-east-and-west-think-in-profoundly-different-ways
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Selfish Christianity
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