Jump Start # 3929
Matthew 23;11 “But the greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Throwback Thursday: an article from the past
The New Harmony Project
The early 1820’s proved to be a very exciting period for Indiana. The young Hoosier state was experiencing growing pains as settlement after settlement literally sprang up everywhere. Federal grants provided the necessary funds to establish permanent roads throughout the state. Plans were made to move the state capitol from Corydon to Indianapolis.
It was during this time that European industrialist Robert Owen bought a large tract of land in Southern Indiana, which included the village known as “Harmony.” Owen renamed the town, “New Harmony.” Owen experimented with developing a new society based upon community ownership and equality of work and profit. We refer to such arrangements today as a commune wrapped around socialism. The New Harmony project brought together the best minds of science, philosophy, and education that America and Europe could boast of.
By 1827, the New Harmony society had failed. Confusion and arrogance splintered the little group into several factions. Through the years historians and sociologists have studied the concepts of New Harmony. Many factors attributed to the defeat of this idea. One that nearly all authorities agree upon is the poor spirit of work that prevailed in that Southern Indiana community.
With all the intellectual minds that New Harmony attracted came an attitude of preeminence and dominance. The basic tasks of pioneer living and the very duties necessary to survive were left undone. These “prominent” citizens of New Harmony did not feel obligated to help out. They considered themselves too superior to stoop to plain, common labor.
We sometimes find that same spirit in the church. For one reason or another, some Christians feel that they do not have to attend all the services, teach classes, invite their friends, participate in visitation groups or pitch in and help. These same Christians are often loud and long in telling others all the things that need to be done and all the changes that ought to take place. But some how they never actually “stoop” to doing any of these things themselves. This poor attitude will cripple the church just as it killed the New Harmony project.
Let us learn from this lesson of history. Our Lord took up a towel and washed the feet of the apostles. If God on earth can do that, then we ought to each be busy doing what we can. No task is beneath us. No job is too inferior for us. At New Harmony, many folks were talking, but few were doing.
Being a servant is honorable in the eyes of Heaven.
Roger
Written February, 1999