Community

Community. It is an interesting word and conjures up a lot of different mental images. Whether we like it or not, it is something we all need and something we were all created for. God never meant for us to live life in isolation. Unfortunately, in our present society, we tend to live more isolated than ever before, even when we are around other people. What is Christian community and how is it different from community in the secular world?
In looking at the Scriptures I find that there are four main areas that create a sense of community. The first is a common purpose and a common vision. For the Christian, that would look something like the vision statement for our church - to love each other, love God and love those who do not know Jesus. That common purpose does not mean uniformity as each member should be allowed freedom to express his own giftings and personality. Secondly community should create a safe environment in which members are able to share their hurts and struggles as well as their victories. There must be an openness, a deep sense of trust, times of confession, forgiveness and accountability. This is not something that comes easily or quickly, and requires regular meeting together, including eating together, partaking of communion, serving together and fellowship.
The third area is encouragement. This is something we all need and community is the proper place where this can take place in all truth, and without flattery or ulterior motives. A part of this is to build each other up, helping them to see their own potential and giftings while letting them exercise them even if it is awkward at first.
Fourthly, community in a decidedly Christian context, should be a training ground for the exercise of our unique spiritual gifts.
So how is this achieved? I have outlined some things already. Others would include proper teaching in all these areas and then having it modelled regularly. Extensive times of prayer are needed both corporately as well as individually, where each one prays for the other members. Lastly we need to be ready to bear each other's burdens. We see these concepts throughout Scripture and outlined in the familiar passage in Acts 2: 42-47. These goals are lofty. Are they obtainable? I think that even in today's society this can happen through small groups within the church.
Incidentally, the pictures are from Uganda and do not relate to community, except in the larger sense of the worldwide Christian community.