Community and Humility

Rather than fleeing the Roman urban cesspools, the early church found their niche there. Their unity as a community made things happen- crazy, awesome things. People took notice. Even the surrounding government took notice that Christians were doing substantial work to address the needs of the poor and need. And God added to their numbers...

Everyone longs for intimate and meaningful relationships. Loneliness and isolation are deserted, desolate deserts of despair. However, something prevents us from sharing our deepest feelings and struggles with those around us.

A strange paradox exists; we have lost privacy as well as community. Our lives are crowded with activities, we're surrounded by people on a daily basis, but most of our interactions are relationally empty.

What should be the shape of a people who together live out the Christian faith modeled after the New Testament community? In Acts 2, this community devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer, they lived together, shared everything in common, sold their possessions and goods, gave to everyone in need, gathered in the temple courts, shared meals in their homes, and praised God. "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" (v. 47).

What are some qualities of a restored community as God desires? First, the community must be visible. We need to be a clear demonstration of God's Kingdom reality being lived out by His people. Our neighbors should see Jesus in us as they watch how we love one another. They should see us using our gifts and talents to take the love of Christ beyond the four walls of the church building.

Second, the community must be committed to each other. While the early Christians made a total commitment to each other, our communities and even churches are increasingly fragmented and disconnected. When a church member gets into trouble or incurs a need, we expect her to seek help from friends, family, or from a social welfare agency before turning to her church body. Too often the church family looks down on those with issues or problems. Our commitment to each other should place no limits on our responsibility for each other. How much do we really share in other people's pain and struggles, and in what ways do we do that? When one part of the body is hurt, the whole body should be engaged.

I just pulled my quad, and I gotta tell you that my entire body knows it. I'm not trying to get sympathy- just provide an illustration. My back hurts, my knee and calf hurt from trying to compensate, and now my arms hurt from the crutches. The point is that when one member of Christ's body is in pain, the entire body should be engaged. It's when we share life that our joys increase and our sorrows decrease.

Third, the community must also be servants to all. Ephesians 3:10 says, "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." I don't fully understand all the implications here, but suffice it to say that this sounds incredibly significant. The church only functions properly as a cohesive and united body, and if the body is dismembered or broken, we're not functioning to fulfill our purposes which clearly hold significance beyond what we can see or even imagine.

The way we love each other tells the watching world around us whether we are really followers of Jesus. We must be in community in order to put this into action. Paul says it is the way we fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). How often to we ask ourselves, "What is wrong in the life of the fellow believer or myself that needs to be mended or set straight for the good of the whole body?" It requires honesty, openness, and a mutual recognition that it is neither abnormal, nor unspiritual to have burdens.

James 5:16 says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." We cannot run away from people because of their struggles - they are just as much a part of the body of Christ as the next person. We must devote ourselves to them (and them to us) in prayer and the sharing of lives.

This can be painful stuff- breaking down the walls we've built around our darkness and secrets. Not only are we blocking other people out, we're also safeguarding and keeping that sin locked away inside. Confession and honesty is absolutely necessary.

It starts and ends with humility. We must recognize that we came from dirt and to dirt we shall return. Just when we think we're making progress, we mess up (or the knowledge of making progress goes to our heads). Our flesh constantly pulls us in the opposite direction of righteousness. Our own desires draw us away from God's will, and we have all fallen short. When we come together, exposing our failures and offering what gifts we do have to help each other and the community, God is glorified.