Chapter 2 is about God’s plan to create ‘a people’, not isolated believers. By becoming a Christian we join a family of people who follow God.
We often view ourselves in the centre of our lives, juggling work, family, finances, health, church etc. When it gets too much we drop one of these, church just being another thing we have to do. However church is not another thing I have to do but the very group of people in which I find my identity. As Christians we belong to God and to each other. Our identity is found 'in Christ' together. At the centre of Bible’s view is not ‘me’, but ‘us’ (a people, our church Summer Hill Anglican). Church is what defines who we are and gives Christlike shape to our lives, it is more than attending a meeting on a Sunday.
It’s better explained by an example in the chapter:
It’s better explained by an example in the chapter:
Imagine Nathan and Natalie have a baby.
Babies take time. Nathan and Natalie now have less time. Nathan and Natalie decide they may have to ‘drop’ church. But in the Bible’s view is it’s not a problem for just Nathan and Natalie, it’s a problem for the whole church. As a congregation we must take some responsibility. Perhaps a few people help Natalie bathe their baby on different days so Nathan and Natalie can have some time together, perhaps someone else drives Nathan to work, as he’s so tired. Nathan and Natalie might be less involved in the church meetings but they’re still just as involved in the life of the community.
The idea of community is attractive until you realise the costs. It means taking into account the church in my decision making and listening to others and gaining their wisdom. It means spending time with people and being available for people. It means sharing our lives with each other in a way that is not superficial.
Christian community is also a powerful witness. As Christians we model to a watching world what it means to live under Christ's rule. Building community is something we can all do whatever our role in church life.
4 comments:
This is probably the most significant chapter in the book. The rest of the book really looks at various issues that are an outworking of the focus on the gospel and community. It might be worth grabbing someone's copy of the book and reading this one. I'll make some other comments about the chapter itself later. Chris.
I think they are onto something in this chapter, that we are not to live alone as Christians but are called to be part of God's kingdom. The functional part being our local church community. Over the last year I have found it really helpful in understanding Paul's writings to the churches seeing his letters as addressing the whole church as one rather than the individuals within the church.
The idea of church is always of the people of God gathered around his word. This gathering gives expression and fosters the brotherhood and fellowship we have that exists between our gatherings. I think it means that both our church gatherings and the expression of our fellowship at other times are both vital to us as Christians and in our shared life together.
As we know each other better and look to serve each other more it means our whole church life is not about attending an event but being part of a community that points people to the grace shown to us in the gospel.
A tough thing for building community is the transient lifestyle that is so commonin our world. I reckon it takes 3-5 years to really feel part of a church. If you move house and change churches in that same kind of time-frame it is hard to really feel part of a congregation.
I suppose it means trying to stick with a church long-term. (Often the stability and maturity of churches comes from long-term members of local congregations).
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