I am a deeply independent person. Ever since I was little I have made it my mission to do everything on my own. As the oldest of 5 children, with no siblings to set the stage for me, I chose to play it as safe as possible and stay inside my comfort zone when it came to relationships. I really thought I was not a people person and doing everything on my own was easier to me than asking for help or initiating anything. As silly as it is to think about now, I really had convinced myself that it was fine for me to live in a semi-isolated mindset. I was good on my own. I had a few close friends and my family and I was happy with that.
As I have grown up and matured, I have been challenged about my view of community. In John 17, Jesus prays what is known as the High Priestly prayer. He is asking the Father that we, as believers, would be in unity with each just as God the Son and God the Father are in unity with each other. This is no small thing. John 17:11 says, “And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” Even as we are one. That is what a radical community looks like. Community that is rooted in the unity of the Triune God is life changing and life giving. In other words, we need each other.
We find, as believers, that church is a part of the live-giving community we are called to be a part of. Every one of us has been given gifts and talents that serve as a part of our purpose as individuals. The beauty of this is that our purposes work together as we exist together within the church. The church is one body made up of different parts. Paul discusses unity when he addresses the church in Ephesus saying in Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” This does not mean that we all agree on everything, but that together as one body we work together for the goal of loving Christ and others. Our purpose in life is nurtured and developed in and through the church.
One of the more uncomfortable aspects of community is the accountability that it provides. This is one of the most important components to sanctification. James 5:16 says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” There is no easy way to confess your sins especially to the people you are close to and the people you do life with. It requires vulnerability and honesty, but it is necessary for healing. Confession allows for healing and accountability, which leads to growth. Let me tell you something. This is not fun. Whenever I know that I need to confess something I immediately try to rationalize. Maybe it really wasn’t sin. It really wasn’t that bad was it? I only did it because… If I somehow make it past my rationalization and I set my mind to confession, my anxiety level begins to rise and I start to feel shaky and sweaty. It is not a pretty sight. All that to say, confession is not fun. But, on the other side of any difficult confession is the freedom of healing, which by the way, far outweighs the uncomfortable feelings.
Unity and confession allow for authentic relationships. This is what it looks like to be deeply rooted in community. To invest in relationships that are life-giving. To love each other despite differences and strive for unity. To be vulnerable and confess the things that we struggle with and are struggling with. Larry Crabb discusses these authentic relationships in his book Real Church: “[Church] needs to deepen its awareness of ongoing sin and shame and terror and weakness in every Christian’s life that must be authentically faced to the point of brokenness in the presence of grace-filled community”[1] As we situate ourselves underneath the overflow of God’s love and allow that to be the source for our relationships we find that community changes us and it gives us purpose. This kind of community requires commitment. As we commit to those around us, we are able to dive deeper into relationships and experience true community. My own personal experience has proven this to be true. I have moved several times in my life and I can tell you that when I first moved and chose to seek out connection and community I was able to thrive in the place that I was. Did it require me to go outside of my comfort zone? Yes. Did it require intentionally seeking others out? Yes. Was it worth it? Every time.
The Lord uses us, in community, to bring the Gospel and show His love to a dying world. I made the mistake many times in my life to isolate and live in the safety of my little world where I remained stagnant. When I decided to move outside of myself I experienced the grace and joy found in authentic community. We are meant to be deeply rooted in community and the great thing is that it is available to us when we seek it out. Maybe the next step needs to be finding someone and having a difficult conversation or finding someone and just having a conversation. Either way, it is time to find community and become rooted.
Connection:
- How does accountability in community help you grow spiritually, and in what ways has it shaped your walk with Christ?
- How do you feel called to live out the Gospel in your community?
- How do you balance solitude and connection, and what role does community play in helping you thrive spiritually?
- What is one step you can take today to engage more deeply in community or reach out to someone for connection?
[1] Real Church by Larry Crabb, pg 49.
