Authentic Christian Community
Perhaps one of the greatest cries of people today is for authentic Christian Community.
These three words can each stand alone and mean so much. But when put together, they become synergistic and very powerful. This synergism produces an environment with enormous appeal; one everyone hopes to experience. Let’s look at each of these words.
What best defines authentic? How about genuine or real…true or unquestionable? I consider my wife to be one of the most authentic people I know. With her, what you see…is what you get. Her passion for life and compassion for people is truly authentic.
She desires authentic (true) relationships, especially with members of her family. This is very important to her. She believes authentic relationships must have the capacity for depth and maturity; without this, they are very shallow.
So, what about the word Christian? What exactly is a good definition? For me, Christian means full-devoted disciple of Jesus Christ – ambassador of faith, hope, and love. Finding relationships with genuine Christians is so inviting and life-giving. You can talk for hours about life, family, and the Lord.
Community is the last word that completes this synergistic environment. I sometimes define community as the birthplace of common purpose; the seed-bed of mutuality and unity. For me, community is more than a place. It represents value, attitude, and vision. I believe community is something we all desire; without it, we are alone.
Benjamin Franklin once said: "we can all hang together, or surely we will all hang separately."
Each of the words in authentic Christian community invites something unique. Each resonates with possibility and imagination! Put it all together, and you have an amazing synergistic environment, where the output is far greater that the sum of the inputs.
Authentic Christian community is a transformational environment where people truly cared about each other. No one feels alone; everyone feels needed. Relationships are life-giving; serving as avenues for mutual understanding and respect. Everyone finds hope and experiences God’s love.
Can such an environment truly exist?
Call me an idealist, but I believe authentic Christian community is possible; in fact, I experience everyday in relationship with my wife. I’ve also experienced it with my family, friends, and co-workers.
In simple terms authentic Christian community is a place where faith, hope, and love are permanent residences, and people are invited to move in next door.
Throughout the years I’ve learned that authentic Christian community really begins in me. Many times my search has brought me to my own doorstep with these questions: “What’s in my neighborhood? Would anyone really want to take up residence next to me?”
Something to think about.
