Perhaps
few spiritual disciplines are as misunderstood as community. We envision
community as folks standing around a campfire holding hands and singing. While
there may be moments of warm feelings, community as a discipline is about
loving even those you prefer to ignore. It's about including people the church
doesn't (seem to) need or even the disgruntled folks you secretly think the
church would be better off without.
(1Cor 12:12-27) underscores the grittiness of Christian community. Individuals
who have nothing in common talk and work alongside each other until some of
their sharp edges are rounded off. Eventually you treasure this person who
could not be more different from you. Christ insists that we need each other.
And we do - the viewpoint of the other person helps us climb out of our narrow
world and learn what it means to love another person just a little bit.
When
CS Lewis became a Christian; he initially resisted being a part of a church.
For example, he disliked the hymns, which he regarded as "fifth-rate
poems." Eventually, however, Lewis began to understand that the church is
not a human organization but the "Body
of Christ where people share the common life, complementing and helping one
another precisely by their differences." That happens as we submit to
God, trusting that we really do need all these odd people, and to submit to
them as well.
We often confuse Christian community with special friendships, which have different kinds of benefits and qualities. When have you experienced Christian community as described below?
Christian
Community
|
Special
Friendships
|
You disagree but still listen to each
other
|
You know what the other is thinking.
|
You're committed to listening to God's
call on each other's life.
|
You agree on almost everything
|
You're
committed to praying for each other.
|
You say just what the other needs to
hear.
|
Side by side with others, you give gifts
of service.
|
You give each other special gifts.
|
When you're angered you walk away,
process it with God and consider how God is using that person in your life.
|
You get upset with each other but work
it out.
|
You have many differences with this
person.
|
You have few differences and many
similarities.
|
You may have no interests in common.
|
You love to do the same activities.
|
You're astounded at how God uses such
ordinary relationships in your life.
|
You're astounded at what good friends
you are.
|
We often confuse Christian community with special friendships, which have different kinds of benefits and qualities. When have you experienced Christian community as described below?
Dietrich Bonheoffer wrote:
"Innumerable times a whole Christian community has broken down because it
had sprung from a wish dream... He who loves his dream of community more than
the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though
his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial.”
Henri Nouwen said: “In true community we are windows constantly offering each other new
views on the mystery of God's presence in our lives: a truth, a beauty, and a
love which is greater fuller and richer than we ourselves can grasp.”
Think about this:
How do some people complete this sentence (even
if just in their minds)? "I'm not
much use to the church because....." or "I'm not much use to God
because....”
Put your hand on a bruise or scar or place on
your body that was formerly injured badly Thank God for the healing that has
taken place – or is currently happening – Thank God for the way this will
enable your whole person to move forward in life without delay or distraction. Then
pray for your church and its injuries.
When you go to church, notice the people around
you and what they do. After noticing each person, pause and say a prayer of
thanks that this person loves God and cares enough to do what they're doing.
