A community is a group of people who discover some connecting interest, maybe a shared passion, identity or experience, and who find comfort and strength in uniting around that commonality. Community exists on the basis of some shared common ground. In the internet age, online communities are global and can be made up of millions of people. They may be centred around lifestyle choices, political preferences, diseases, sports teams, influencers or pop-culture fandom. The list is almost infinite. Communities can remain hidden hubs or have massive influence on cultures outside of themselves.
Created for community
The creation accounts of Genesis chapters 1 and 2 are clear: God intended for his children to live in community. He gave Adam and Eve one another, along with a mandate to ‘be fruitful and multiply’ (Gen. 1:28; 2:18). The intention was that God’s human family would proactively become a kingdom community, tasked with taking his Eden blessing out so that others could also enter in.
After humanity’s long fall, God cut off the rebellious nations and established a new community, starting with Abraham. Israel had the same task as Adam and Eve. They were to be God’s fruitful community, taking his blessing out to the nations. He gave laws to establish boundaries that would protect their community’s uniqueness. Despite all this, even God’s chosen people failed to remain distinct from surrounding cultures.
In the incarnation, Christ established a new covenant community. At the cross he saved them. God raised him from the dead, the firstfruits of his resurrection people. This community was a new humanity (Eph. 2:15-16). They were citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20-21), a holy priesthood, a temple (1Pet. 2:5), a body (Rom. 12:5), Christ’s representatives on Earth (2 Cor. 5:20) and a spiritual people united and empowered by his Spirit (Rom. 8:9).
Like Adam, Noah and Israel, these Christians were to ‘be fruitful and multiply’, or as Jesus put it, ‘Go and make disciples’ (Matt. 28:19). Now God’s Eden blessing might truly transform nations and his community grow.
Authentic Christlike communities
Today, local churches across the world are each expressions of this kingdom community. Our task is to grow and multiply by taking the gospel of grace to a fractured world. Every other community will eventually end but God’s kingdom community is eternal. It will never cease. Its members include all who have ever received and believed the gospel: Jesus died, was buried and was raised (1 Cor. 15:1-2).
It’s a building standing firm on the one foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11). It’s a solid tree with deep roots (Ps. 1:3; Col 2:6-7), nourished by God himself: in his presence, in communion and by his Word. It’s a people in whom Christ himself has chosen to dwell (John 17:26). It soars above all earthly categories and distinctions.
It grows, even in the midst of the most horrific circumstances. It defies the prevailing culture, exposes darkness and stands against sin, injustice, oppression and evil. It advances in the power of the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, warring against rulers and authorities in the unseen realm. It gathers to worship, often under threat, in small numbers and humble circumstances. In doing so it enters boldly into God’s throne room, joining his spiritual family as well as billions of other expressions of Christ’s community across time and space. It cries out in one voice, ‘Our Father,’ to the One who knows exactly what we need. Christ’s community is being built by Jesus himself. It often looks weak and foolish and yet Jesus promised that it is an unstoppable force that will storm the gates of hell (Matt. 16:16-18).
We are heaven’s citizens living out kingdom values on Earth. Christian community expresses faith through authentic relationships, healthy conflict, humility, forgiveness and sacrifice in the pattern of Christ. That means loving our enemies, giving, serving and prioritising his will and righteousness. Those who take the risk discover beautiful fellowship, deep joy and lasting, supernatural peace.
Authentic Christlike communities don’t pursue their own comfort, power or fame. Rather, they delight to illuminate Christ’s reputation. Local churches point the broken, the lost and the hurting to something – someone – better. We have the privilege of holding out the hope of Christ; an invitation to blessing.
The flavour of our Christian communities is not primarily defined by human categories (although I’ve always fancied visiting the First Heavy Metal Church of Christ in Ohio!). Our commonality is only that we are loyal to Jesus. We’ve been saved by grace and united with him. We truly are family in the most fundamental sense: adopted children of Father God, Jesus’ brothers and sisters now bearing his image.
This means that your worship community could be five or five thousand. It could be multi-generational, multi-ethnic, populated by the married, singles and the widowed, able-bodied, disabled, rich and poor – all serving one another, discovering and using their spiritual gifts to benefit the community, making disciples together.
Christian communities eat and drink together. They cry and laugh, sing and pray, wait and hope, grieve, suffer and rejoice together. They are devoted to God’s Word and to one another.
Essential not extra
Christian community is not an optional extra for members of Christ’s body. You can’t just let your subs lapse and stop showing up. We need each other. You’re in the community because you’re in Christ and he expects that we love one another just as he loved us. As you sacrifice your time, money and energy, there’s no loss, for your community is busy loving you back!
Does Christian community sound worth the cost to you? Will you embrace this unique, beautiful privilege? If your church is going to be recognised as God’s unique community, you’ll be stirred up to play your part.
Show up
It’s the cringiest of church posters but it’s true: If ‘UR’ missing from ‘CH_ _CH’ then your community will not flourish and function as intended. When you duck out, you luck out, and your family miss out on the blessing of your presence.
Pitch in
Belonging to Christ’s community is no spectator sport. God’s Spirit has equipped, gifted and empowered you to serve your church. If you don’t know how or where to serve, talk to your leaders. Offer yourself where there’s need. Step out of your comfort zone and do it humbly.
Look out
Christian community doesn’t exist for its own contentment. Inward-looking churches are dying churches. Cultivate an outward-focused, life-bringing purpose. Your community is Christ to your locality: will you take his blessing out right where he’s placed you?
Churches, let’s play our part in God’s great plan: be fruitful and multiply. Go and make disciples. Take Christ into a hurting world and pray that by grace, your community will grow in people, in compassion and in love for Jesus.
