The Call to Community

Perhaps my favorite word in the Bible, right after salvation, redemption, love and the like (OK, there’s a lot I like in the Bible), is community. Community means that I am part of something bigger than myself, that I am not alone and that my contribution counts.

There should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it. I Corinthians 12:25-27

Jesus lived community, and set examples for how we should live out our expression of community. He knew that our idea of community would consist of power over each other, of selfish desire and of self-promotion. He lived the exact opposite, and expects us to follow his example.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus; who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant… Philippians 2:5-7

Jesus lived community by becoming a servant. He reduced himself to fit into a human body, just so he could save us. He suffered death and rose again, and then he left, sending his Spirit to unite us and make use one body, his body. 

One of my favorite examples of how we are to live in community occurred just before Jesus’ arrest. Jesus knows his time is up. The meal is served, Judas has already left to betray him, and Jesus was getting ready to go home.

Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. John 13:1b

What follows is what John considers the full extent of Jesus’ love for his disciples, his earthly community.

He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with a towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:4-5

Jesus great power was expressed in servanthood. Whoever had booked the room for their feast that night had neglected to arrange for a servant to look after their needs. The roads were dirt and dust, and they wore sandals. It was the servant’s job to wash their feet. Not one of them lowered themselves to do the job of the servant. Jesus lived servanthood, and admonished them to do the same. He who would be great in Jesus’ kingdom must be servant of all. Jesus was the greatest in all regards.

Peter was aghast. He objected to allowing Jesus to wash his feet. Jesus was no servant! He was Messiah! Peter should have been washing Jesus’ feet. The thing is, if Peter had lowered himself to be a servant, had offered to wash feet, Jesus wouldn’t have been wrapping that towel around his own waist. Jesus doesn’t rebuke him for not serving, but offers him the choice; “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Unless you accept my gift of servanthood, you can’t be part of my community.

I struggle with community. I don’t want to be your servant, but even more, I don’t want to allow you to serve me. I have just as difficult a time accepting your gifts as I do wanting to give you mine. Maybe harder. But that’s the nature of community. I use my gift to teach you and build you up. You use your gift to encourage me and make me stronger. We are better together than we are alone. Community means mutuality. Serve and be served. Wash and be washed.

Pick up the basin. Wrap that towel around your waist. Sit down and take off your sandals. Engage in community. Jesus is here. There is no better place to be.

Lone Ranger Christians

Man was created for community.  From the time God looked at Adam in the garden of Eden and remarked “It is not good for man to be alone” through the end of Revelation where all believers are together as the Bride of Christ, God has made it clear that we need each other.  We were not meant to function alone.

There seems to be an alarming trend among Christians today to assert their independence.  “I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian” they say.  And to an extent they are right.  God’s grace is extended to individuals who come to Him in faith.  But on anther level they are missing out on blessing and strength for victorious living.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor…If one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him; a cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”  Ecclesiastes 4:9,12

Two people working together on anything have an advantage over one person working alone.  The two inspire each other, bounce ideas off each other, point out each others weaknesses.  By combining their strengths, both are better individuals than they would be operating singly.  One person alone can be easily overcome, easily discouraged, but two together can retain perspective.  Imagine what three people together can do, especially three who are untied by one Head and one Spirit.

God uses us for each other.  He has chosen to work through people, for people.  He has chosen to encourage us, strengthen us, and help us fight off the attacks of the Evil One by giving us to each other and working through us for each others benefit.  If you are one of the Lone Ranger Christians who choose to go through your daily walk alone, you’re short changing yourself.  People are messy.  People are emotional and irrational and often let you down.  If you get involved with other Christians, you will be frustrated, and you will be blessed. 

God will make you stronger because of it.

Look around you. Who has God put in your life to strengthen you? To strengthen them? Who can you reach out to, not only for their benefit, but for you?