The Church: Community Minded

The Church: Community Minded

It's safe to say that everyone longs for community. Whether it's found in shared interests like local high schools, sports teams, video games, fashion, or even something like the current buzz around cryptocurrencies, there's a special feeling that comes from belonging. This sense of connection was a key part of what made the New Testament Church so appealing.

The New Testament Church operated with a decentralized structure. It wasn't that they were disorganized, but rather that the church wasn't tied to a specific institution or hierarchical organization. Unlike the more business-like structure often seen in the North American Church today, the New Testament Church functioned more organically as a true community. We see this reflected in passages like these:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. – Acts 2:42-47

…so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. - 1 Corinthians 12:25-27

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:24-25.

This strong sense of community was a defining characteristic of the early church. But what exactly constituted this community? Merriam-Webster defines community as “a unified body of individuals” and, in this context, “a group of people who have the same interests, religion, race, etc.” The Bible tells us that the church functioned as a community, and the biblical word for church is ecclēsia (or a similar form). Therefore, it logically follows that the church, both then and now, is made up of believers, followers of Jesus. There's simply no other way to interpret it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Grammys, Community, and the Church: A Reflection on Family

The Grammys, Community, and the Church:  A Reflection on Family My wife and I found ourselves watching the Grammy Awards red carpet arrivals tonight. It's not usually my cup of tea, but there it was, playing in the background. As I half-watched, half-listened, something struck me. The language being used by the artists, nominees, and winners was overwhelmingly communal. There was a real sense of shared passion and understanding that music is more than just an industry; it's a community. The emphasis on the MusicCares Fire Relief, supporting Los Angeles communities affected by the fires, further reinforced this. One interviewer even called the event a "family reunion," a time for the music community to come together, encourage each other, and celebrate their shared love of music. It was, in a way, a beautiful thing to witness. And it got me thinking. Why don't we see this same level of unity and community within the church? Of all groups, the church should ...
Read more

The Sleeping Giant: Is It Time to Wake Up?

  The Sleeping Giant: Is It Time to Wake Up? The Sleeping Giant is more than just a catchy phrase; it's a powerful idea, and it's about  you .  It's about the potential within each of us, and within the Church as a whole, to rise up from a state of apathy and embrace a life of purpose and power. The Sleeping Giant is... the Church! But not in the way you might be thinking. It's not about buildings or rituals. Those things can actually contribute to the "sleep." When we talk about the Church, we're talking about Ecclēsia – the people called out from the world and to God. It's the community of believers, the body of Christ. And right now, too much of that body is slumbering. The truth is, many Christians agree that the Church needs to wake up, but they're unsure of how, or worse, unwilling to do what it takes. I've seen two major roadblocks hindering this awakening: religion and cost. Religion: We've inherited a certain idea of what ...
Read more

Is Inviting People to Church Really Biblical?

Image
 Is Inviting People to Church Really Biblical? We've all been there. The flutter of excitement when an invitation arrives, the subtle sting of exclusion when it doesn't. From childhood birthday parties to adult gatherings, the desire for inclusion runs deep. We're taught that inviting others is a good thing, a way to build community and share experiences. But is this always true, especially within the context of the church? Today, I want to gently challenge the conventional wisdom of "invite everyone to church." It's a practice so ingrained that we rarely stop to question its effectiveness or its underlying motivations. Let's take a closer look at the different groups we typically extend these invitations to: Believers Not Part of a Church Body: Why aren't they involved in a church? Do we really know, or do we even care beyond the surface-level invitation? A casual "You should come to our church sometime!" often overlooks the complex and pers...
Read more