The Necessity of Community
In our search for intimacy with Christ, we are transformed into Jesus’ likeness and grow into a closer walk with Him through our relationship with the body of believers, the family of God. As Christians, we are members of the body of Christ. Every aspect of our life as a Christian is a body issue. Being a part of the body necessitates community. We are a society of believers in Jesus Christ: the Jesus society. The community of people around us is the incubator in which we grow. The depth and quality of our growth will depend on the community that surrounds us. In living the Jesus way of life together with others in the local body of Christ, we encourage, empower, and enliven one another. In Christ, we share a common life together.
One of the most important aspects of community is growing in our relationship with Christ through knowing and being known by others within the body. Nearly everyone seems to have an inherent need to know and be known. The body of Christ supplies the environment for transparency, honesty, and intimacy. In Christ, we should be able to share our deepest needs, struggles, concerns, problems, joys, victories, and dreams. We need to learn to pour out ourselves to one another, rather than to be constantly on guard, living in fear, isolation, loneliness, and keeping everyone at arm’s length. Yes, it can be risky to be open and transparent with others, but we will likely never learn to be intimate with Christ so long as we remain distant from His body. We must pray that God will help us become willing to be more open, honest, and even vulnerable with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Another important matter to grow in Christ through community is loving and being loved. If we are serious about loving God, then we must love people, especially those that are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Love sincerely desires through action what is in the best spiritual interests of the other person. We must devote ourselves to them. Paul explained that this was Jesus’ attitude toward others, and that we should emulate it (Philippians 2:1-4). To love one another is simply to obey the law of Christ’s kingdom, treating people as Jesus treated them. In order to love one another, we must learn to see people as through God’s eyes. We must see the value in them.
Love changes people, including ourselves. Love creates change from the inside out. Our responsibility is to love one another as Jesus loves us. We can love because we are loved perfectly and fully by God. Our love for one another matters. It can draw us to Christ; it gives power to our lives; and it brings glory to God. As we learn to love one another unconditionally without self-protection, we move toward the reality of abundant living in Christ. Our spirituality is measured by improvement in the depth and quality of our relationships through Christ.
One of the most important aspects of community is growing in our relationship with Christ through knowing and being known by others within the body. Nearly everyone seems to have an inherent need to know and be known. The body of Christ supplies the environment for transparency, honesty, and intimacy. In Christ, we should be able to share our deepest needs, struggles, concerns, problems, joys, victories, and dreams. We need to learn to pour out ourselves to one another, rather than to be constantly on guard, living in fear, isolation, loneliness, and keeping everyone at arm’s length. Yes, it can be risky to be open and transparent with others, but we will likely never learn to be intimate with Christ so long as we remain distant from His body. We must pray that God will help us become willing to be more open, honest, and even vulnerable with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Another important matter to grow in Christ through community is loving and being loved. If we are serious about loving God, then we must love people, especially those that are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Love sincerely desires through action what is in the best spiritual interests of the other person. We must devote ourselves to them. Paul explained that this was Jesus’ attitude toward others, and that we should emulate it (Philippians 2:1-4). To love one another is simply to obey the law of Christ’s kingdom, treating people as Jesus treated them. In order to love one another, we must learn to see people as through God’s eyes. We must see the value in them.
Love changes people, including ourselves. Love creates change from the inside out. Our responsibility is to love one another as Jesus loves us. We can love because we are loved perfectly and fully by God. Our love for one another matters. It can draw us to Christ; it gives power to our lives; and it brings glory to God. As we learn to love one another unconditionally without self-protection, we move toward the reality of abundant living in Christ. Our spirituality is measured by improvement in the depth and quality of our relationships through Christ.
I will say Amen. I feel that all relationships would grow tremendously and we could be close if we could all learn to control our tongues. So many times we speak without thinking and hurt others unintentionally. I have been studying alot about love lately. If we practiced a Christ love within our community of both physical and spiritual family our lives would be so much closer to Christ and God. I challenge everyone to specifically pray for kindness and unselfish love to shine in their lives each and every day. Amen again Brother Terry.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it strange how we sometimes speak to those whom we love the most, in unChristlike ways that we wouldn't even speak to a stranger? We should seek to edify and encourage others letting the love of Jesus flow through us to them, especially in our words.
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