I have been fortunate over the past quarter century to see examples of meaningful community in action: people giving and receiving comfort from one another; people helping others, simply out of the goodness of their hearts (and not because they expect to have the favour returned one day); people making a hurting individual feel like they are truly welcomed and accepted, in spite of differences or difficulties. This is the church at its best.
I grew up in a small prairie town, where there were lots of examples of people functioning as caring community – service clubs, neighbourhood gatherings, charity organizations – all of these existed in addition to what the local churches provided. To be part of community was the norm. Today service clubs are disappearing, neighbourhood gatherings are rare (as is even knowing who your neighbours are), and charity organizations turn more and more to professional fundraising outfits to raise money in order to function. We live in a time of diminished community, of ever-increasing individualization and isolation.
While society has changed, our human needs remain the same. We still have the same need to belong, to be accepted, to be supported. We still need to get help from others when our personal resources and skills are not sufficient for the challenges we face. In other words, we still need to be part of a community, and this an opportunity for the church right now and in the years to come.
When a congregation functions in a healthy manner then people will find there a community that provides many of those needs mentioned before. In a congregation we can find a sense of belonging, we can find acceptance as unique individual in spite of differences and imperfections, we can find ourselves surrounded by people who will set aside their own needs to offer help and assistance in times of crisis and struggle.
When a congregation functions in an accepting and caring manner we get a glimpse of heaven, a foretaste of the community to come. 19th century English author William Morris once wrote “Fellowship is heaven, and lack of fellowship is hell; fellowship is life, and lack of fellowship is death.” (from A Dream of John Ball) In this day and age true community is scarce, thus when a congregation functions as a place where people find fellowship it is like the person who discovers a great treasure buried in a field, and then goes and sells all that he has to buy that field (Matthew 13:44) – it is that valuable. Community is a treasure we need to uncover, to share, to uphold.
Being united in an active love of God and others will give meaning to individuals who have been given little to live for other than self-gratification. Belonging to a group who isn’t interested in your false projected self, but in the real inner person – and is willing to accept and include the your self – this is a powerful enticement if it is perceived to be offered without hypocrisy or falsehood. This is one of great gifts the Christian church can offer people in our place and time – meaningful community, a missing component in much of modern society.
It is no surprise to me that the religion Jesus began was founded through community. While there are moments of people off praying by themselves (including Jesus), there are many more moments of people in relationship with one another - giving support, offering encouragement, sharing resources, keeping each other company, passing on wisdom and knowledge, and discovering the value of different skills and gifts. This is how the church began, and this is how the church will continue into the future – through the gift of community. Mark Morrison-Reed has proclaimed “The religious community is essential, for alone our vision is too narrow to see all that must be seen. Together, our vision widens and strength is renewed.” To me this quote describes the work of the Holy Spirit - it is through community that God most often works to bring new understanding and perspective, as well as renewal of strength and passion. Martin Luther wrote that the Holy Spirit “calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith.” (Small Catechism, explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed) It is the Holy Spirit that creates community, and we can either be participants in the Spirit’s work, or isolationists ignorant of God’s gracious gift.
I am delighted when someone finds a place in our congregation, when they experience the fullness of fellowship. They become the best possible witness to the value of being part of a church community, they know the value of being with others in a way that truly lives out the command to love God with all our being and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. This need for community will always be part of the human experience, and thus is now revealed as a valuable gift the church can offer those weary of the excessive individualism of our contemporary culture. Now the challenge remains – can we live out this call to be community as fully and holy as possible?
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