Daily Excerpt: Joshuanism (Tosto): The Three Cornerstones

 

Excerpt:

The Three Cornerstone [of Joshuanism]

Humans have become isolated creatures. They spend most of their time alone, behind windshields and computer screens. Christians are not immune to this increasing isolation. Even when they come together for small groups or Bible studies, there is still a very private element to the way they communicate with one another. How many people actually tell the truth about what is really going on in their lives or their minds? How many people really admit how messed up their world is? How many people divulge their needs of the moment? Very few. Why is it only a few? Because no one wants anyone else to know that his life is not the picture perfect scene that it appears to be on the surface.

Christian churches are just as isolated as the people in them. Most of them sequester themselves away from other churches just a few blocks down the street. Why? Because one church does things one way, and another church does things a different way. God forbid they should do the unthinkable and mingle. As we noted in the preceding section, they squabble over semantics and peripheral theological issues to the point that one denomination would never dream of associating with another. Consequently, individual churches become isolated little kingdoms filled with isolated people.

However, this is not the picture painted in the New Testament. This is not the modus operandi encouraged by the apostles. Consider the historian Luke’s interesting description of how Joshua’s earliest followers operated:

 

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. (Acts 4:32, 34-35 NIV)

 

This account of how the early believers behaved (i.e., sharing each other’s lives, each other’s problems, and each other’s resources) is so far from what we see today that one can hardly believe Luke is writing about Christians. But he is. Now, re-read the above excerpt again and ask yourself what is the one word that sums up the described activities? For me, it is the word community. What is community? A group of people assembled around a common purpose, people who are intimately involved in each other’s lives. Maybe you are lucky enough to experience that in your particular church, but the truth is that most people do not experience these things at church.

That is exactly what Joshuanism offers. Community. Joshuanism is meant to be a counterattack against isolationism. Joshuanism exists to restore that lost sense of community, of belonging, to the human race. How? The Tables. The Table is specifically designed to be interactive, even invasive. What do I mean by invasive? I mean that you cannot belong to a Table and regularly meet at a Table without being forced into complete and total transparency. We are supposed to walk in the light. Isn’t that what the scriptures tell us? No one can walk in the light and have secrets at the same time.

Therefore, Joshuan community, as experienced at Table meetings and indeed in everyday life (since Joshuans are supposed to be involved in each other’s everyday lives), has some very specific characteristics to it. What are these characteristics? They are based on the aforementioned excerpt from Acts 4, which is quite clear about how the early believers interacted. Let’s explore these characteristics one at a time…

 

1.     Harmony. All the believers were one in heart and mind. Does this mean they never disagreed? No. Does this mean that they all shared the same opinions? No. Does this mean that people did not have their own preferences? No. What does it mean then? It means that each believer, though different, was aggregated with his or her fellows around the same purpose. Being one in heart and mind does not mean they suddenly stopped having individual personalities. It means that even in their differences they found a common ground to stand on. What was that common ground? God. Joshua. Love. They were in harmony on the issues that mattered. They stood together despite whatever marginal differences they might have had. Joshuanism restores this dynamic to fellowship through Diversified Uniformity, as detailed in the previous section.

 

2.     Sharing. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. This is going to be tough for us isolated humans to swallow, but it was evidently a distinctive characteristic of the early believers. Whereas today people love to hold on to what is theirs, Joshua and the apostles encouraged everyone to let go. Now, does this mean no one can own anything or keep anything? Of course not. Nothing should ever be so extreme as to become like a law, but the point is that Joshuans are encouraged to share their resources with one another. If your fellows need this or that and it’s within your power to give it to them, lend it to them, or secure it for them, you should. Joshuanism should be a place where people can know that others truly care about their needs. It may sound like a cliché, but if the “what’s mine is yours” attitude does not permeate Joshuanism, then it is doomed already.   

 

3.     Giving. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. In the Christian church, people are asked to give their money on a regular basis. Now, there is nothing inherently wrong with that. Further, it’s good to show God you trust him by being generous with your money. However, the problem is this: these people show up to church, put their check in the plate, and then go back home to their isolated lives never knowing exactly who or what is getting their money. Who is getting their money? Most likely, it is the pastor or whatever other form of church leader exists. In most cases, that pastor does not even know all the names of those who are supporting him financially. Now, who is probably not getting that money? The homeless guy on the street corner. The starving little girl in Kenya. The starving little girl in Detroit. The single mother who can barely afford to keep the electricity on in her crummy little apartment. The point is that while no one is saying church leaders should not be paid, the early believers distributed money to anyone as he had need. In other words, the money went first to those in real need. In Joshuanism, no Helm or Pilot will ever guilt you into giving ten percent of your money to them; first of all, they are not paid for what they do, and second, there is no precedent in the New Testament for the regular giving of ten percent. What is encouraged in the New Testament, however, is having an attitude of generosity, an attitude of giving. Therefore, Joshuans are encouraged to give where and when they see a need to outsiders, as well as to each other. There is no demand, no regulation, and no expectation. It falls to the individual Joshuan to decide to be generous, where to be generous, when to be generous, and how much to give. 

These three characteristics (harmony, sharing, giving) found in Luke’s description in Acts 4 of how the early believers interacted form the basis of Joshuan community. They are the Three Cornerstones, if you will, of Joshuan interaction. If Joshuans fail to be harmonious with each other or generous with those in need, they will be as ineffective in this world as some Christians have become.

In view of that last sentence, this is probably a good place to make a statement. It may seem as though I look upon my Christian counterparts with contempt or that I think I am better than they are. Believe me, I know myself. I am not better than anyone else. It’s just that I have a lot of impatience with Christianity. Sometimes, there is an anger one can feel that isn’t fully sinful. Yes, I admit it. I am angry with Christianity. I am angry that I see pastors driving around in BMWs while the homeless guy down the street goes hungry. I am angry when I hear another young girl has been kicked out by her Christian parents because her teenage pregnancy has shamed them. I am angry that I have seen so many dozens of churches split down the middle over issues like musical preferences or dress code. I am angry that a hurting world looks in at what Christianity has to offer and sees only bickering and snobbery. I am angry that people who are drawn to alternative lifestyles are shunned and hated by those who are supposed to be kind and loving. I am angry that mere differences in theological semantics can create bitter, lifelong enemies. I am angry that what was never meant to be religious still clings so tightly to its religiousness. Do I think I am better than the Christian? No. I just wish all Christians would get as angry as I do about these things. At times in this book, it may seem as though I am going out of my way to make ugly remarks about all things Christian, as though this book is a cleverly disguised diatribe. I give you my word that this is not my intent. What is my intent, however, is to make it abundantly clear why this new route called Joshuanism exists. To do that, I must show the need for a new route. In my humble opinion, a new route is long, long overdue.

 

FAQs about Joshuan Community

 

So, no leaders within Joshuanism will ever be paid?

Never.

 

Will there ever be a building specifically built for Joshuans to gather together?

No, never.

 

What about weddings?

What about them?

 

Weddings usually happen in churches, don’t they?

So they do, but no one says they have to. Joshuan weddings should take place where the Tables take place: in the home. Expensive weddings are counterproductive to true charity, anyway. Save the $30,000 you would have spent on your fancy wedding and give it to the poor.

 

Then who performs Joshuan weddings?

Anyone licensed or certified to do so.

 

What about baptisms?

Unlike Christianity, Joshuanism does not mandate or even encourage baptism. If the Joshuan wants to be baptized, that is his or her choice.

 

Where would these baptisms take place?

Wherever there is water.

 

Do Helms and Pilots have any authority?

None that is not given to them by those they lead. The Helm of your Table is not “the boss” or “in charge.” The Helm’s job is merely to facilitate and, where necessary, steer.

 

There is no supreme leader of the Joshuan Extraction?

Not in human form, no. The only supreme leader is God.

 

Well, what are you?

Just a guy who writes books.

 

Is the Joshuan Extraction at odds with the Christian Church?

No. After all, they share common themes, claim the same Savior, and serve the same God. It’s certainly true that the Extraction operates in a much different manner than the Christian Church, but the two are not at odds (at least not from the Joshuan side of things).

 

Are there any conditions or stipulations one must meet in order to be Helm or a Pilot?

Nothing official. However, the person ought to be spiritually mature, possessing a palpable godliness and disposition to lead others.

 

Do Helms or Pilots need any special training or educative degree?

Absolutely not. Refer to Acts 4:13 for a rarely quoted suggestion regarding leaders within the believing community.

 

Can Helms or Pilots be women?

Certainly.

 

So Joshuans don’t give a tithe to their leaders?

Joshuans give money to those who need it when they need it. If the Helm of your Table has a need, meet it. If a woman you have never met before has a need, meet it. Meet the needs of anyone who has a need when it’s in your ability to do so.

 

You said that Joshuanism exists outside the system. What does that mean?

Simply this: when Joshuans give of their financial resources, they’re giving where and when they see a need. This means that not a single dollar is going toward keeping the electricity running in a church building. Not a single dollar is going toward paying the rent or the mortgage on a church building. Not a single dollar is lining the pockets of those who lead. All of that money is freed up to go where it was always supposed to go: to the poor. Sure, Tables may incur some expenses. To break bread together means to have a meal, and to have a meal means someone is paying for food. Likewise, any kind of refreshments, printed literature, or community websites might also require funds. In comparison to Christian churches, these expenses are trivial. There should also be sufficient resources to fund the aforementioned Joshuan Forums, and those could potentially be pricey. However, as the Forums meet infrequently, the cost should still pale in comparison to the vast amounts of money the Christian Church requires. 

 

So, having discussed how Joshuans gather together collectively, let’s now explore how Joshuanism is practiced by the individual.

 

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