It is sometimes difficult to imagine the importance of the New Testament concept of community. In one of the most powerful references to the unity of believers, the Apostle Paul states that, “In Himself He might make the two into one new man…and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross.”[1] Peter O’Brien comments that Christ actually brought believers “together in a sovereign act that was nothing less than a new creation.”[2] The impossibility of functioning individually becomes obvious in light of the believer’s integration into a newly created corporate entity that resides in Christ.
Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
Accordingly, Dave Early appropriately points out that if believers simply attend church on Sunday morning without an ongoing connection, then the body becomes ineffective.[3] One might propose taking Earley’s logic a step further by suggesting that if Sunday morning consists solely of a mass of people listening to entertaining music and teaching, then it is likely that the word “church” may be an inappropriate name for the activity. As David Platt points out, the model of church provided by Jesus was a focus on the few, not on the masses.[4] Thus, the remainder of this discussion board post will focus on Christian community in terms of participation in relationship with the few. I had two rather different experiences regarding integration into Christian community during my early adulthood. My first experience entailed attending a Sunday morning service and then being asked to sign up to join a small group. Unfortunately, the small group I joined seemed to exist as a forum to spew advice couched as truth given in love and to heave judgment couched as accountability. Alternatively, I had a pastor ask to personally meet with me every week for a few months. We met in a room at a library and each week he would ask me what God was doing in my life. Once I had finished answering the question, then I would ask him the same question. He would answer and then we would pray and leave. My meetings with Pastor Bob were my first experiences of true Christian community. Since those initial meetings with Bob, I have spent the last fifteen years of my life meeting with thousands of people individually and in small groups. Pastor Bob helped me see the power of inquiry over advice giving and empathy over extending judgment. He modeled Christian community by allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal and convict rather than personally feeling the need to fix or control.
Pastor Bob’s influence inspired me to make personal discipleship in an environment of Christian community my ministerial mission. Accordingly, I have applied Bob’s principles of the spiritual discipline of community to many areas of my life and ministry. First, I decided not only to personally disciple others, but also teach others to disciple in a safe environment of community through Monday night training sessions. Second, I published a book that focuses on relational discipleship in Christian community. Third, I created an accredited college curriculum regarding the practical integration of faith and psychology that continues to be offered to graduating seniors. Currently, I plan to continue my lifelong mission of personally building disciples within a safe environment of community with the individuals and small groups of people that God places in my life as well as teaching others to do the same.
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[1]. Ephesians 2:15-16 (NASB).
[2]. Peter T. O’Brien, The Letter to the Ephesians (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1999), 199.
[3]. Liberty University, “Presentation: The Overlooked Disciplines – Saying Thanks,” Liberty University Web site, Microsoft Silverlight file, 13:11, http://bb7.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1942950_ (accessed March 21, 2013).
[4]. David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream (Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah, 2010), 1-2.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Liberty University. “Presentation: Living in Community.” Liberty University Web site. Microsoft Silverlight file. http://bb7.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1942950_ (accessed March 21, 2013).
- O’Brien, Peter T. The Letter to the Ephesians. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1999.
- Platt, David. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah, 2010.
