Community. It’s a word that has been thrown around a lot lately. I’ve heard it in sermons, devotionals, conversations around campus, and even during the interview process for the World Race. This word, “community”, has been everywhere. I’m being told that I need to “constantly be forming a community”, that “CCU needs to become a community, not just a campus”, and so many other things. Maybe I missed it along the way but… what is a community? In all of those chapels and family services I’ve yet to hear what exactly this community thing is. I’m the type of person that will either take a five-step process or just enjoy the creative freedom with a task. However, I haven’t been privileged to either. So, what is community?
I would like to go back to one of my favorite books of the Bible – Romans. Paul has a lot to say about community and unity among believers throughout Scripture. Romans has always been a go to for me when dealing with how to be more like Christ. Two chapters stick out to me specifically – Romans 12 and 15. Both are stocked with lots of beautiful words on how to be more Christ like.
Starting with Romans 12, most people hold on to the first few verses in the chapter. It talks about not being conformed to this world and becoming living sacrifices for God. This is a great opener for what Paul continues to talk about. The chapter goes on to talk about the gifts in the church. He writes in 4-5, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” With this, I think one of the many ways to respond to the idea of community is by respecting others and their individual, God given talents and purpose. Sadly, we so often forget that each and every person holds a place in God’s plan – one that was written well before their birth. When we acknowledge this, we are a few steps closer to not only understanding community, but experiencing it.
Romans 15:5-7 “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Wow. If this isn’t a declaration to the Church on community then I don’t really know what is. Let’s highlight a few words: harmony, one voice, welcome, as Christ, glory of God… Paul is telling us to live in harmony with each other. Being one voice to glorify God is a huge task for the body of Christ. This can only happen when we come together to welcome each other as Christ has welcomed you.
I can write for hours on the importance of community and what the Bible says about it. Yet, so little is told about what that community is. Is community merely living in peace with one another? Or, as Romans 15 would lead us to believe, is it welcoming each other like Christ to be one voice in glorifying our God? I think it’s both of those things and so much more. Perhaps community hasn’t been defined in totality because there is no set definition for what a “community” is.
CCU is a community. It’s one that is centered around glorifying God, or at least I would like to think that it is. Generally, I am constantly being surrounded by people who are constantly striving to be like Jesus and constantly failing. It’s encouraging, it’s inspiring, it’s heartbreaking, it’s tearjerking, and it’s so many other things. But most of all, it’s grace-filled.
As I prepare to leave CCU in December and life as I know it in July, I know my definition of community is going to change. It’s no longer going to center around Christians everywhere that I look that are in the constant pursuit of getting a degree and finding themselves and their passions on the way. It will be radically warped. That definition will change because my surroundings will. I’m sure Thailand is just a bit different then Holy Hill (what we call CCU sometimes cause we’re on top of a huge hill).
CCU has prepared me for developing and experiencing community in its most raw and biblical sense. While I could have done better at fostering it during my time here, I am definitely ready for more. Simple put, CCU isn’t my only or the only community. It’s a part of something so much bigger – the body of Christ. Community stretches far beyond Price Hill and into Albania, Romania, Malawi, Zambia, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile. All of those countries and far beyond their borders are people that make up the one voice to glorify God. In less than a year, my community is going to go from local to global super fast in ways that I could never have imagined. Am I ready for it? Absolutely. I want to experience Acts 2, Romans 12, and Romans 15. Am I going to be a catalyst for it? Prayerfully, if God willing, yes. More importantly: Are you ready for it and are you willing to be a catalyst? If yes, be willing to answer the call of Jesus to love one another. Develop community. Experience community.
