The Source of Community
Over the last several months we (the young adults group I work with) have been studying the communal aspects of our faith - what it would/could/should look like when we pursue our faith journey in the midst of a community of other Jesus followers. It’s been a good conversation and one that I don’t think has come very easily for most of us.
If you’re like me you place a high value on relationships in your life. Friends are family, and we couldn’t & really don’t want to pursue life on our own. And yet, if we’re honest, we look around ourselves and our lives (in spite of how much we talk about community) are really void of very many truly meaningful relationships. Sometimes the few that we can count on have come from work relationships, sports/hobbies we pursue, and even friendships we’ve managed to hold onto through the years from our past.
How would we rate the importance of the relationships we have within the Body of Christ?
I think it’s important to realize that the source of this longing within our lives is God. He is the one who has made us with this need for other people. I think it’s equally important to realize that He also designed a place to bring fulfillment of this longing - the Body of Christ, the Church. We really don’t like to hear that - we rarely see authenticity in relationships we have with those whom we choose to worship with on a regular basis, but it is a truth that I don’t think we can get far away from.
Yeah, I know the Church (capital C) is more than just the group of people who meet in a building together once a week to pursue God. We can have these significant spiritual relationships with others who we don’t see in that building who are Christians like us. But I don’t think we can separate ourselves completely from that group of people, either.
I recently read an article by Rick Warren on his site (www.rickwarren.com) entitled, “The Church – the greatest force on Earth.” In it he holds up the great ‘giants’ we are facing in our world today - spiritual lostness, egocentric leadership, poverty, disease, and ignorance - and heralds the Church as the one God-created, God-ordained force to slay them. I couldn’t help but hear/feel his excitement about the Body of Christ as I read through his words. I also couldn’t help but recognize my own lack of enthusiasm when it comes to the Church.
I have to check myself every once in awhile. I have to take my spiritual pride (that veils itself as cynicism) and lay down again at the altar. I’m praying that God will keep His Bride radiant in my own eyes as I seek to fulfill my longing for community in the very place in which it was designed to be fulfilled.
About the Author
Chris Ediger is a storyteller and a storylover who gets to see God’s love awaken in the eyes of his three kids each day. He helps oversee the online work of Catalyst through his work with GiANT Impact in Atlanta, and would choose a hot cup of coffee, a comfortable chair and a good book over just about anything. You can follow his journey at InTheThinPlaces.com.
There have been 2 replies so far
Thanks for the blog, Chris. I have been searching for a church home lately, having moved to Nashville a year and a half ago. One of the key things I’m looking for are people who have room in their lives to begin a real relationship with me, not just a social or Sunday morning relationship, people who are authentic with their lives and let me be that way too. It’s really hard - so many times I meet people who are “nice” but - dare I say it - shallow. And I get disappointed. Or I meet people I would love to go deeper with, and I get afraid to ask to be part of their lives, because it seems they have enough connections already. Your blog encourages me to keep hoping and keep moving past my fear of rejection with those people I do feel could become friends.
1 | Tina Bembry
Friday, January 12, 2007, at 6:43pm
I agree community is the key issue with people, namely single people. Often times, families create their own little communities at their homes that occupy most of their time. There is no community for single people at home. It’s outside of their house unless they hold a get-together.
Most people are married and so they are friends with other married couples. That way the guy can hang out with the guy and the girls can do the same. I know it’s easier, but single people end up getting set off to the outer boundaries of the community “city limits” just watching. I know for me that I have to actively engage myself in the community because the invitations aren’t flooding my inbox. Did I mention that I’m not married? So, I’ve tried to be the inviter to people I see aren’t being attended to - usually new single people.
I was just thinking about this community thing yesterday. We hear over and over about the statistic that if somebody hasn’t accepted Christ by the time they are 18, they probably won’t. Why is that? My theory is the lack of community. Think how your life is now compared to high school or college. In high school and college, you were going to class, then had a break after every class to walk around a campus and run into people, eat at the cafeteria, play sports, play intramurals, hang out with friends, and go to lots of events. Then, the next semester, you had all new classes and a whole new set of people to interact with. That’s a vibrant community to be able to share Christ and build community.
Now, you go to work and see the same people day after day, year after year, with a change only every once in a while. You sit at your desk and do YOUR work because if you don’t, you’re not being a good steward to your employer. Less talk, more work. Then, you go home, and usually stay home because you’re too tired and have to get stuff done around the house. At the end of the month, who have you seen? What new person have you met? To what person have you had a good spiritual talk with? I believe that one of the many reasons that older people don’t accept Christ is because nobody is talking to them. They talk to the same 10 people year after year.
My parents both accepted Christ in their late thirties because a couple took the time to really spend time with them and tell them about Christ. Then, included them in their community and helped them along in the beginning of their journey. My parents listened because they knew they cared about them. don’t see that happening very often anymore. People are too busy with going to work, spending time with their families, and going to church. Many times, their lifestyle does not include anyone else outside their family and church clique.
I, too, have to check myself (seems like everyday) to ask God to show me what I’m missing right in front of my eyes. Who could I serve in my community? Who could I bring into the community that just seems to be alone? How can God use me to make the church a better instrument for God?
Philipians 2:3-4 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
Chris, thanks for the blog. This is a major topic that can bring a lot of change and relevancy to the church.
2 | Alec
Sunday, January 14, 2007, at 12:31pm
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