Have you found your tribe yet?
“No man is an island entire of itself,” wrote John Donne 400 years ago in his immortal poem. You weren’t made to sail isolated through the waters of life. We humans are social creatures who need one another in order to feel at peace and whole.Yet America was born as an act of rebellion and independence. Children of tyranny, we pushed back and fought for freedom. And when we move beyond the adolescent need for autonomy into the maturity of a group living interdependently, it can be a wonderful thing. We need tribes to be happy.
Young people seem to know this better than their parents. They have an inner drive to find their social context, the tribe to which they belong. I first wrote about this idea three years ago and have been working to help build a tribe that believes like I do. A few friends and I believe that God is calling a generation to embrace the radical life that Jesus talked about. We may be disconnected, but we’re dreaming of a better way. So we’re committed to fathering them and we believe that a tribe is forming.
We believe in a lifestyle of
community not independence,freedom not legalism,kingdom not isolation,and discipleship not token faith
Some churches have traded the call of Christ in on the concept of a meet-on-Sunday social club. We believe that Jesus died for more than that and expects his followers to sell out. We believe young people are looking for something to believe in and we see a tribe forming around these uncomplicated tenants that Jesus espoused.
If you’re still looking for your tribe, consider ours. We’re passionate, but we’re not crazy. We’re serious about the stakes, but we know how to party. We’re scattered, but we’re coalescing. You don’t have to have a position or be on a staff. There are no name tags, but a deep sense of belonging. If you believe in a tribe you’ve never seen, you’ll find that the principles in finding one are universal. Seth Godin does a stellar job of explaining them in the video above and in this blog. I highly recommend them.
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Really great food for thought! Love the “we’re passionate, but we’re not crazy” line…our church, Mars Hill, in Seattle really embraces that concept.
Just what I needed… thanks Seth!
interesting video. I had to laugh when at the end he said about “being missed”. I left my last church and my husband carried on going 9mnths without me. Not one person asked him how I was! I think that says it all.
Back to the video,his concept on tribes is very much going back to the early church, how things were in the Acts of the apostles.Im all for that but struggling to find those that see it too.Ive met a handful here but thats it.
Good timing on this Seth, ive been so fed up today Ive asked my hubby if we can just sell up and move out of this city as I cant see anything worth staying for. Its only God telling me to stay thats kept me here so long!
Any jobs at your place Seth? I can lead an army onto the battlefield, help build a mud hut in the remotest part of the world or just sit there deleting emails….right now Im not fussed!
Yeah, the tribe does rock…although I do think we’re a little bit crazy though, Seth. But the good kind.
Thanks for asking, Sue! Like I said, “You don’t have to have a position or be on a staff.”
Best thing I can suggest from London is to hop an EasyJet flight to Malaga and check us out there: http://www.g42global.org/leadershipacademy/
James 1:22-25 🙂 We’re in.
It’s an aching desire. We’ve been working at finding and engaging others in a more purposeful and passionate disicpleship and it’s really hard work. Should it be hard work to find kindred aching souls who actually want to engage and invest and will show up without persistant prompting? After 21 years in a Church that provided the village for our two kids and many elments of tribe for us, we are struggling to continue. So much has changed, including us. We are desperate for ‘tribe’ in all the hues you describe. What’s a 50something to do?
just watched the video. good one.
“meet-on-Sunday social club” great way to put it.
i love TED. 🙂
i feel like i’m hearing about this guy a lot lately. glad i finally caught a glimpse.
it’s interesting to relate it to the whole “choose in” concept we talk so much about with the WR. you don’t need to go out and “market” the WR so much as people are now coming to the program. “self-selecting” if you will.
and after the Race – the same thing occurs … choosing in to this tribe and self-selecting again…. vs. someone convincing you. he’s definitely on to some truth there (and it’s cool that it aligns with what ya’ll have been saying all along!)
thanks for sharing seth!
Thanks Seth.. I wish! Anyone fancy looking after 5 kids for me whilst I go get discipled??
I have to say though Seth, that is an AWESOME training programme youve got going there. I break up from work for the 7 week summer break on the 17th July, I wouldnt mind flying over and check it out for a few days if thats possible? Let me know of the cost (in English please)and I see if its feasable?
Sue – I’m putting you in direct touch w/ those guys. It’ll be cheap.
Thanks Seth, thats brill!
“I see a generation…rising up to take it’s place!” The Peterson clan is in!!