This post is a follow up post to my previous one on community. I’ve learned a few things about community and myself since the time that I wrote that post.
- I was made for relationship.
- I have not been intentional in seeking out community. I was content with just involving myself in the communities I found myself in by default and I rarely tried to help establish healthy community.
- Community is essential to growth.
- When I don’t have fellowship with other members of Christ’s body it is easy for me to lose sight of what is true.
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. – Ephesians 4:14-16 NLT
- Everyone has something to bring to the table and when we don’t it lessens the effectiveness of the team.
- A body that is missing parts does not function as well. It is my duty to engage in community with other members of the Body and they depend on me to show up for the body to function properly.
- The body heals itself so that it can interact with the outside world. You don’t cut off an infected part of the body to promote health, you help heal it.
- When one person struggles or triumphs, everyone is affected.
- Healthy communities fight for each other and hold each other accountable.
- There is freedom when I don’t feel the need to hide from those around me.
- I need to be willing to communicate.
- Living in intentional community is hard but totally worth it.
- I am loved and I am called to share that love in the context of community.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34&35 ESV
- Christ commands us to love each other, saying that we will be known by our love.
- You can’t love in seclusion. Nor can we love without communication.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. – Colossians 3:15&16 ESV
