On Christian Community

It is perhaps of necessity to be apart from a Christian community, and yet claim membership within one, to write effectively on what it means. The ten or twenty extended families of Christians living and acting in close cooperation, knowing everything about everyone, looking first to the church for all serious personal relationships, friendships, partnerships, seeking to remain in standing first with those of the same beliefs ahead of any other unconnected contact – this is what I was born into and still value today. My greatest fear, and what should be the greatest fear of any believing Christian, is that I will awake one day to find I have led or am leading a selfish life – a life that benefits only myself. This is a worthy fear.

It is easy as well to look to family, sons and daughters, beloved spouse, or parents and think that simply because our absence would cause great pain on these, that we are then accomplished and need not worry over our role in the community at large. These roles are undeniably important, even primary. But they, all these cares, are still foremost ours and not another’s, and thus if all-consuming are also selfish, idolatrous, and will limit our spiritual efficacy.

Community is defined by most as a noun denoting a town, neighborhood, village, or ethnic area of a city. This is not incorrect, but is a restrictive of the term’s full meaning. Real Community is a verb. It is action – and not a simple random action, but a complex of intentional deliberate actions toward a desired end.