Community - what does it look like

February 22, 2011

Community - a unified body of individuals, a social, religious, occupational or other group sharing common characteristics or interests or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists.  ecclesiastical - a group of men or women leading a common life according to a rule, similar character, agreement, identity.

Oh God, it would be so much easier to be a Christian, to love you, honor you, follow you if it wasn't for these other Christians I have to deal with.  The minute we create community or attempt community, all of the sudden it is an obligation to openly bare your soul and trust people you don't really know. It's like first day of hunting season, I'm going to find your weakness or struggle - not just point it out to you but to the community.  It doesn't matter if you feel safe with these people, what the hell we're all Christians. Wars have been fought in the name of Christianity. Does that make it Godly or of God? No, I don't think so. We bring the wounded, the broken, confused, screwed up, wandering into community to first and foremost lift them up, to point them to Jesus, to prop up Jesus in front of ourselves. Did Jesus point out to the whole community about the situation of the woman at the well? Or did He offer her a better life and living water.  Jesus offered up grace and love, hope and a dream. If we don't have that to offer up, what we have to give is judgment, hypocrisy and shame. Really is that what we want to give. I recently watched the Furious Love DVD and heard that the greatest weapon we have as Christians is love.
Can we and will we get that and live that? I pray so, I truly pray so.