In Joshua 7 an incredibly bewildering event takes place: God judges his people for the sins of one man, Achan. Many people died because of his (what appears to be individual) sin. In fact, for his sin his entire family was condemned and stoned to death by decree of God. Many people in other cultures would understand better why this might happened. Yet, our cultural perspective sees this as an offense. Now, we do not have a problem if an individual has done something wrong and is therefore justly punished. But, when a group (a corporate whole) is deserving of punishment on account of an individual’s sin, we cringe. Nevertheless, in spite of our misgivings, God considers the whole in some sense guilty for the sin of the one. The group is perhaps complicit or perhaps simply complacent. The group is the context in which the individual was born, raised and nurtured. The individual is a product in many ways of the group and therefore, the group is in some ways condemned. Now, this is not to say that all within the group are equally guilty nor is it to say that the group could not pursue change or is outside of the possibility of redemption. But, in Scripture we all stand condemned for sin individually and corporately. We all are looking for redemption and reform both individually and corporately.

As we move on please consider this one sidebar: within in this incredibly bewildering event lies the key to understanding the message of the Bible as a whole. The short story of a group facing condemnation for the sin of their father will prove to be pivotal in understanding the Bible story as a whole.

Corporate responsibility seen within a nation (Dan 9).

Here we see the prophet Daniel confessing and repenting for the sins that his own nation committed generations before he even existed. This practice of identifying oneself with the sins of one’s nation is very common in the Scriptures. It is seen in the Psalms, the Histories and within the Prophetic sections of the Old Testament. It is in fact at the heart of Jesus’ final identification with his fallen people at his baptism and on the cross. John the Baptist knew that it wasn’t sensical for Jesus to be baptized. He did not share in the guilt of his people. Yet, for love Jesus did so regardless. He was numbered with the transgressors. The sins of many were laid on him.

Now consider that the sins of Daniel’s ancestors had been committed before he was even born. Daniel felt it necessary to confess, lament and repent of sins he hadn’t committed himself. So why does he do it? Not because he was under condemnation for Daniel understood the forgiveness that comes through trust in God. But, Daniel did understand that the culture he was a part of had produced the sins of the past, and that his culture wasn’t yet fully reformed or redeemed.

As an example, we should consider that the sin of abortion in a corporate sense is on each of us as Americans. Abortion happens in our neighborhoods and is supported by our tax dollars. Thank God for the forgiveness that comes from Christ or else we would all stand heavily condemned. We should also by application lament all the other corporate sins of our people, tribe and tongue. We should by application lament all the current atrocities committed by our nation, tribe and tongue.

Moreover, we should long as does the Apostle Paul for repentance and revival among our own family and nation. (Romans 9:1-5) Take some time to read over Paul’s lament for his nation’s sins. Consider also that Paul, as well as Daniel rejoiced in his nation’s graces as well. God has indeed blessed every nation on earth. He has indeed spread his gifts and his graces broadly. Yet, the truth remains that we all have fallen short of his glory and are all undeserving of his graces, both individually and corporately. So, we must examine, confess and move forward toward greater godliness and justice.

Corporate responsibility within a “Race” (Rom 5).

The Apostle Paul goes beyond the corporate reality of your family and your people. He also makes the case that we are all individually condemned because of what Adam and Eve did many years ago. We are condemned by virtue of being part of thehuman race. Romans 5:12 makes it clear, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned”

This teaching is what theologians call the doctrine of “federal headship.” Adam acted as our representative and so when he sinned, the entire body of people he headed up (the human race) is held accountable for his sin. For more on Federal Headship see http://founders.org/library/boyce1/ch24/

Now to contemporary Americans that might sound unfair, but the simple truth is that when we individually rebel against God, willfully disobey him, and knowingly break his law, we prove that if we had been in Adam’s place, we would have sinned in the same way he did.

But don’t be too put off by this, there is a positive aspect to this truth of federal headship. Romans 5:18-19 says, “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

We may find it hard to swallow that God credited to us Adam’s sin. We might find it even harder to believe that he condemned us corporately as one human race on account of our representative’s sin. But, consider that if we were condemned for one representative’s sin, we can likewise be declared righteous through one man’s obedience. I, for one, am happy not to represent myself. This is the essence of the gospel, that Christ was credited with our sin while we are credited with his righteousness: the Great Exchange!

And, this is essential to being able to see, confess and lament over one’s own corporate guilt. The truth that we are declared righteous by the court of heaven on account of another’s righteousness means that we can stare the guilt of our ancestors and the guilt in our own heart and know that it was nailed to the cross. What a freedom! What a relief! Now, of course the world and the Devil would love to use both our individual and corporate guilt against us, but in Christ and on account of Christ’s work God does not deal with us according to our iniquities. And neither should we. We are free to confess and lament without fear of reprisal from God. We are free to work toward a corporate righteousness even if we don’t ever get it just right. We are finally free to be vulnerable, to admit fault, to stop pointing fingers at our fellow forgiven brothers and to work toward what is right.

Toward a Multi-Ethnic Church

So, why do we even need to have this new category of corporate sin? To be plain I think it divides ethnicities on Sunday morning. Its not the only divide but its a big one. And, I think it is an un-essential division that love and understanding can break through.

Bear with me please but I think it generally true that white Christians in the West by God’s grace have a heart for individual righteousness and responsibility. On social media and in every day life white evangelicals declare (often admittedly with too much gusto and too little nuance) that problems could be solved if people would take responsibility for their lives, if they would own up and be the men and women God has called them to be. Now listen, it is not true that individual responsibility will solve all the problems of our world. We don’t think we can actually save ourselves through effort, do we? But, it is true that God expects us to take individual responsibility.

On the other hand, (speaking from a white man’s perspective) I think it generally true that African American Christians in the west by God’s grace have a heart for corporate righteousness and responsibility. This is in part because of the fact that they were especially and are often still on the receiving end of corporate sin. African Americans are generally more likely to point out that the problems we face today are the result of corporate sin or societal structures that have placed people in positions where they are tempted or even forced to sin. Now, if all societal systems were fixed overnight, would that solve all the problems in this world? No, every individual would still be devastated by the problems they cause all by themselves. Yet God commands us to work for societal, corporate justice.

So, which is right? Is the brokenness of this world on account of corporate or individual evil? Yes. And, here is what I think could happen in the everyday life of Christ Church. Knowing the reality of the gospel–that we are all guilty both individually and as a group and that in Christ we are not condemned for either — we could affirm that the problem lies in both our individual hearts and in our group’s “heart.” For all have sinned and that means all individually and collectively. We could then strive toward righting those corporate injustices and sins that occur in our lives, workplaces, and neighborhoods. In addition, we could affirm the brokenness of individuals and strive to help one another to better themselves individually, to take responsibility for the Godliness they have been called to. It doesn’t have to be an either-or for the Bible says it is a both-and. For Christ Church to be genuinely multi-ethnic we must learn to think this way. We must expand our theological categories. We must learn to think and speak with nuance. We must learn to look across the aisle and see that the other has a perspective that actually helps us to be more Biblical.

In the end, I believe that together our unified heart would be more aligned with God’s who is both concerned with corporate and individual righteousness and responsibility. We would be more like Christ. We would begin to be CHRISTChurch!

There is much more to say, but I’m glad we’re talking. Thank you for joining with me, the pastors, and the elders of Christ Church as we strive to be not only a gospel preaching church, but also a gospel looking church.