"Come-unity"

Community was something I have always yearned for. Growing up, I felt as though I were the only one excluded from community. To my surprise, there are so many people crying out for the same thing. Two forces I now recognize that held me back from community is alienation (loneliness) and fear of rejection. Imagine a teeter-totter. When our souls feel as if its on one side of the teeter-totter such as being alone, we seek for community. However, while being in community, we fear speaking out loud, loving others, and rebuking others because we fear 'rejection'. So we resort to keeping quiet and being alone. Surprise! Surprise! You've flipped the teeter-totter and are now alone and alienated... again.

I have a feeling that this isn't going to be my only post on 'community.' My view on community is definitely no longer the same as it was a year ago. Actually... that's a pretty exciting thing. As society changes, the needs inside communities also changes. But one thing that does not seem to change is that God uses small groups of people to bring people to Him.

There's so many questions, concerns, and skepticism hovering over the concept of a 'small group' community. Does what we want to do as a small group biblical? Or is it cultural? Honestly, if we choose to do things the cultural way, it might work for a while, but I truly believe that God will bless the small group if we choose to do it the biblical way.

Acts 2:42 - "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he 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."

The call for communal action that stood out for me were: devote, teach, break bread, pray, be excited to meet, sell, give, persevere, praise, and multiply. As I read Acts 2, it's so easy for my heart to ache and judge the shortcomings of my small group. However, I believe the Lord does not intend for us to feel that way. I'm not talking about grieving or being in anguish. I'm talking about that feeling that hardens my heart which disallows my spirit's encounter with Kingdom freedom. Despite the hardship and the questionable issues, our Father is continually pouring out blessings upon blessings into small groups. Being so fixated on the little things disallows me to see the greater picture.

I am beginning to notice Christians buying houses/condos further and further away from their church. Not only are they physically moving further away, their hearts are also. It's obvious, the closer people live together, the opportunity for greater intimacy in communal gatherings is greater. I understand it's hard to buy a house that is developed in the city. But the bigger picture is that issues such as listening and accountability are decreasing in communities and physical distance play a role in the dissension.

As mentioned, listening is gradually degrading. When was the last time someone listened to you? I'm not even talking about someone 'physically in your presence' listening. I'm talking about listening to you without distractions with their cellphones (text messages, emails), and psychological questions such as 'I am hungry... when can I go eat?' I'm also talking about the listening where their eyes are listening to you too as supposed to darting all over the place. When was the last time your friend's eyes were fixated on you and the conversation?

Accountability has also lost its influence of healing. What does accountability even mean to people nowadays? I think I have heard people say "I will keep you accountable" more often than seeing it happen. It's kinda like seeing a friend that's fallen into a hole and telling them you'll be back - but you end up not coming back. HAHA... speaking of accountability, one of my disciples recognized the growing belly I am developing. So he mapped out a workout schedule and drafted a commitment contract for me. This is what he said, "Since you're caring for my spiritual health, I'll keep you accountable in your physical health - you scratch mine and I scratch yours. We hold each other accountable." And then he goes into telling me that he'll buy me glucosamine and condriotin pills because he knows I have bad knees. That's crazy awesome.

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

Working together to meet the needs of people needs to occur first inside and then outside the community. Why does it have to start inside first? DuH...if your community isn't a community, what are you bringing people into? Imagine one heart with many hands. As we connect together more, we become stronger and we bear more fruit. If people leave small group, the small group's strength decreases. As we connect ourselves to the small group, we ourselves become stronger. Unless we assemble, the evil one will pick on us easily. Come... let us continue to pursue after Christ and the unity of believers.

Come-unity.