I can not express the number of times I’ve heard the word community. In fact, I feel it is greatly overused in the church today. This is mostly because it is not practiced on a consistent basis. So, what exactly is community? What should it look like? How do we create it? There are fairly complex questions as I’ve discussed it many times with friends. So, let’s talk about it today.
We all long for a place to belong. Somewhere to be accepted for who we are truly. A community of believers can be that safe place. What would such a gathering look like? For starters, there would be the commonality of like faith. Maybe it would include singles, young women, or students. Those in the group can encourage one another. They are there in times needing emotional support or advice. Everyone contributes to the growth and benefit of each member. Essentially, it is creating an atmosphere conducive to cultivating relationships.
So, why is this something that is hard to come by today? Several of my friends have expressed difficulty in finding such a community at their local church. Could it be that a generation so engulfed in the media has lost the ability to socialize in person? It’s easy to hide behind a screen. It gives the false sensation of being connected with one another. Having hundreds even thousands of “friends”, but only truly knowing intimate details about ten or twenty of them is the reality. Social media also causes satisfaction with the superficial. We present crafted images before the world. There are snapshots of perfect moments but no images of the nitty gritty of daily life (or the hardships). True community is forged on vulnerability.
What next? We must create the community that we desire desperately in our area. If you’re single, then start a singles group. Let’s say you like hiking, then invite a few friends along. Create opportunities to do life together. As that happens, conversations start and relationships are built. Again, this takes courage. It takes courage to get out of your comfort zone. There’s the risk of rejection, but the benefit completely outweighs the risk. So, get out there. Create the community you desire in your life. Dare to go deeper with your relationships.
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