Thoughts Regarding Community
Over the past few years, I have increasingly become more aware of the importance of Christian community. I see how my personal walk with God suffered due to the lack of community I had. It was a difficult road that I travelled, but through it God was able to teach me, in my stubbornness, the importance and value of living a life together.
Two years ago when I began the journey of trying to live and work among the poor in North Africa, I went in with the idea that community and team where actually hindrances to the work that I wanted to accomplish. I viewed a team as an unnecessary hindrance to ministry due to the fact that it is something that takes a lot of effort and work to keep in smooth operation. I felt like it would be more simple (and effective) to not have to deal with that, and to devote myself in totality to the "ministry."
However, I now see the absolute necessity of being in community with others. I have grown to view Christian community as an extremely important and essential aspect of living the Christian life. Due to this change of heart, I now am willing to put forth the effort and make the sacrifices that are necessary to live and work with others in a healthy way.
If the minister of the Gospel is not living in right communion with God then the ministry is nothing but a futile attempt that will bear no fruit. The minister of the Gospel must make his or her first priority that of being in right relationship with the God who has called him or her into ministry. However, I am increasingly convinced that it is impossible to remain in right relationship with God for a prolonged period of time all on ones own. We must live in community with other brothers and sisters in Christ. We must live a life together.
Christian community however is not a right that we as believers have - it is a privilege. Furthermore it is a privilege that God does not grant to all believers. Throughout the history of the Church we have examples of many a man and woman that have had to live out their faith in seclusion, without the benefit and privilege of Christian community. For those of us from the western world, I believe that we often times view community as a right, which leads to attitudes that are not conducive in us putting forth the effort that is necessary to live a life together.
We need others. I need others. A life lived alone is a perfect way to fall into sinful habits, therefore making our ministry nothing more than an attempt at self glorification.
Peace,
Matthew Pascal
Two years ago when I began the journey of trying to live and work among the poor in North Africa, I went in with the idea that community and team where actually hindrances to the work that I wanted to accomplish. I viewed a team as an unnecessary hindrance to ministry due to the fact that it is something that takes a lot of effort and work to keep in smooth operation. I felt like it would be more simple (and effective) to not have to deal with that, and to devote myself in totality to the "ministry."
However, I now see the absolute necessity of being in community with others. I have grown to view Christian community as an extremely important and essential aspect of living the Christian life. Due to this change of heart, I now am willing to put forth the effort and make the sacrifices that are necessary to live and work with others in a healthy way.
If the minister of the Gospel is not living in right communion with God then the ministry is nothing but a futile attempt that will bear no fruit. The minister of the Gospel must make his or her first priority that of being in right relationship with the God who has called him or her into ministry. However, I am increasingly convinced that it is impossible to remain in right relationship with God for a prolonged period of time all on ones own. We must live in community with other brothers and sisters in Christ. We must live a life together.
Christian community however is not a right that we as believers have - it is a privilege. Furthermore it is a privilege that God does not grant to all believers. Throughout the history of the Church we have examples of many a man and woman that have had to live out their faith in seclusion, without the benefit and privilege of Christian community. For those of us from the western world, I believe that we often times view community as a right, which leads to attitudes that are not conducive in us putting forth the effort that is necessary to live a life together.
We need others. I need others. A life lived alone is a perfect way to fall into sinful habits, therefore making our ministry nothing more than an attempt at self glorification.
Peace,
Matthew Pascal
posted by Matthew Pascal @ 9:15 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Amen. Good thoughts!
There are very few places other than in my closest, most intentional community that I find myself pushed deeper into the questions of how to REALLY love people and how to REALLY live sacrificially and how to REALLY see God as so much bigger and more diverse than me...
does a group of anonymous bloggers count as a community? if so sign me up! you'll find out soon enough who I am...
I love the privilege not right part... but when community is preached as the latter, it makes you wonder why God has you in an isolated situation.
And then, in the cities where busyness is the currency, the term community gets thrown around for schmoozing and catching up with folks you know...
sigh. keep it comin'
-JR
Christian community has been something that I have given a decent amount of thought to in the last few years. I am on Young Life staff in Chicago. Since I became a Christian in high school Young Life has really served as a somewhat amazing Christian Community for me, not even really intentionally. Now more than ever I have been blessed by this Young Life Christian Community.
The other night I was really struck by something that someone said. I was at a high school football game with some other leaders. There were about 7 or 8 of us total with different kids coming and sitting with us from time to time. We were all sitting at the front of a section that was mostly filled by parents. Anyway, at the end of the game this mom came down and asked who we were. We told her about YL and explained a little of why we were there. She said that she had been watching us all night and was captivated by something unique about us and the way we were laughing together and having so much fun. It wasn't until later that I really thought what she was seeing was a small picture of a Christian community, people who were coming together in a common mission reaching out to the lost, and it was so appealing to her not even knowing what we are.
I think that is supposed to be the essence of the christian community. Believers coming together to reach the lost and in the midst of that we are blessed and so are those in our midst.
-Meghan
Great thoughts Meghan. I am so encouraged to hear how God is using you and the rest of the YL community to not only minister to the lost and hurting high schoolers, but also to their parents and the larger Wheaton community as a whole. Keep up the good work friend!
Matt P.
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