community

If there's one note missing from much of our Christianity over the centuries, and in the present day in my culture, it's the note of community. We're to be a community in Jesus. Too often an emphasis on the individual which has philosophical origin, has all but muted out the Biblical emphasis on community. The individual is still important, but as an important part of the whole, the community.

Of course there are often other missing notes as well. Take for example what Scot McKnight calls, "the Jesus Creed." But back to our thought now.

I am blessed to be in community everyday at work with other Christians. We live together as believers in our Lord. I miss contact with those who are not Christians. Though a few come in to do specific jobs there. But I also don't want to take for granted the blessing I have in being around fellow believers day after day.

I think what we chiefly need to do as followers of Jesus in regard to community is to keep meeting together, on a regular basis. When we do, and even before that (as Byard has taught us here, on Sundays), the Spirit is at work to make us a Body. That will minister to each other, and indirectly as well as directly- to the world.

This is a God-thing. Not something we can come up with, not program-oriented, not according to what we plan. Our one responsibility is to live as those who are joined not only to Christ, but to all who are in Christ. We need to live that out in practical ways, before the world. While reaching out to others to become a part of us, in Jesus.

What would you like to add to these few thoughts on this?