Modern hindrances to community and how to overcome them

Developing community is not simple or easy. It takes first of all, the grace of God. We should ask God continuously and fervently for help and wisdom from above that we might grow into what He wants us to be as a church.

Community is a terrific challenge in our culture. Some churches almost become a group of anonymous worshipers. The pervading selfishness, preoccupations with the urgent, chaotic lifestyles, and increasing detachment of intimate relationships in our society destroys community in the body of 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. In a time when relationships suffer from neglect, apathy, and narcissism, churches need to develop intimacy among their members.

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 20, 2010 at 5:31 PM

    Terry,

    Each day it seems we struggle just to survive. How refreshed I am that I have Brothers and Sister I can say, Good Morning! to and share my fears, troubles and dreams with. I'm not sure I could bear the burdens I have if they weren't there every day. Just knowing they are there and they care is a powerful gift God has blessed me with I depend on. Our "Community of Believers" is a great gift and a cornerstone of my faith. It gives me someone I can talk to and reach out and touch when I struggle to maintain my faith and fight my fears. They help me overcome the temptation to quit or give less than my very best. They're a constant help and encouragement.

    ReplyDelete
  2. KATHLEENApril 20, 2010 at 5:57 PM

    Terry,

    Amen! I wholeheartedly agree! And I fervently pray that God will help us to grow into this intimate, transparent, and loving church as you have just described. He is able!

    ReplyDelete
  3. TonyApril 22, 2010 at 5:15 PM

    The community you discribed is almost a fantasy land, given our present day culture. We all want to be a part of something like this. But the reality is most church bodies/families aren't. Why is that? Ignorance? Incorrect teaching? Apathy? Fear? Probably a combination of all it. Where do we start? The church is to be a place of changed lives and that can happen only when we are willing to "get messy" with the issues we all have that keep us from being "in the image of Christ".

    Thanks for addressing this in your recent posts...hopefully, prayerfully the body of Christ will see a move of the Spirit directing us to this kind of life in the Body.

    ReplyDelete
  4. TerryApril 26, 2010 at 2:15 PM

    Perhaps intimacy might begin by prayerfully seeking an accountability partner whom you fully trust. Write your true feelings/confessions/struggles in a journal and share it with your accountability partner. Any other suggestions?

    ReplyDelete

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