The previous post sought to show how the biblical narrative paints an ideal picture of human flourishing which echoes the same longings the Neo-Tribalist philosophy emphasize. The point: So far, Christians can find much common ground with the aims of neo-tribalism. Today, however, I want to highlight where the biblical story diverges from the neo-tribalist story.
BOTTOM LINE: Neo-Tribalism has worthy goals, some well justified critiques, and some beautiful ideals. Yet, it is driven by a secular humanist philosophy that places the ultimate hope of human civilization in the hands of human beings while leaving the Creator out of the picture. There is a profound irony here. On the one hand, Neo-Tribalists aim to tear down the oppressive, dehumanizing towers of Modern Civilization. On the other hand, however, they still share the same humanistic, idolatrous optimism that drove the inhabitants of Babel to build a their towering civilization to the heavens in the first place (Genesis 11).
Both Neo-Tribalism and the architects of Modern civilization have the same approach and the same foundational flaw: they leave God out of the picture, and place human goodness and ingenuity on the throne as the final hope for humanity. But the real problem — a deep-seated rebellion against God in the human heart — goes ignored.
I want to thank my friend for sparking such a great conversation. I want to offer another future post unpacking the whole idea of “redemptive tribal membership” (See, perhaps, my The Church as God’s New Language) — since God has chosen to use a particular “tribe” (i.e., the descendants of Abraham and now the church) to be his chosen people through whom he would bring lasting restoration and cosmic renewal to the rest of his broken creation. Stay tuned!
For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly but because of the one who subjected it — in hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now (Rom 8:20-22).
When everything and everyone is finally under God’s rule, the Son will step down, taking his place with everyone else, showing that God’s rule is absolutely comprehensive — a perfect ending (1 Cor. 15:28 MSG).
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Jeremy L. Berg 
This is very interesting. It paralells the thought in Dostoyevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov. The book is a narrative as well as philosophical and religious dialogue which ulitimately concludes that only through faith in Christ can unconditional love-and thus human happiness-be real.
Dostoyevsky’s novel has been on my reading list for years… Waiting for the perfect time – and preferably the audio book to plow through it.