Community - Want Some?
Community is the reason God created mankind.
Community is at the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Community is the mission of the Church. So, what makes community so appealing?
Community is where we belong, grow, and participate. In community we discover a very important truth: We are not alone. We, each of us, belong to God and each other. We grow in relationships and experience life together.
Community may be described as “common oneness” – a place where different people find common connection. They learn to accept and welcome differences; and at the same time, they build friendships and bonds.
Perhaps the best example of community is found in Scripture.
"They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved (Acts 2:42-47, The Message)."
My prayer is that somehow, someway, the Church could experience this kind of community, today. What gives me hope is the above Scripture. Ordinary people did “connect” with an extraordinary God. They experienced "life together" in a community environment that stands as a witness to us all.
What make us any more different than those people? Surely, we can find healthy community somewhere, somehow.
Perhaps we should start by looking within our self to see if the “connectors” are present. By this I mean the willingness to cooperate with God and His divine purpose for building a true sense of community.
We all long to experience an environment that resonates with great passion for God and sincere compassion for people. God created community with us in mind. So, let’s enjoy it.
