COMMUNITY
I thought a good starting point for this online discussion would be about what Vocation is all about, even though it doesn't match what we are learning as a group right now. We have four core values at Vocation: community, authenticity, mobilization and creativity. Let's start with community.
Why do we need community? I have many friends who have become disillusioned with church and have thus decided to 'abstain' from community and live their faith out alone. Can we really do this? Whenever I think about going it alone, I harken back to my rowing days. Have you ever tried to train as hard as you could for 18 sessions a week all by yourself? Probably not, and I don't recommend it. It's virtually impossible to push yourself by yourself. We were created to be in community and in fellowship, whether it be in training for sports or in our faith.
Why is there so much disillusionment about the church community? We are never going to get community perfect. We are probably going to be hurt, and our expectations are probably not going to be met. I think we often become disillusioned because the church fails to live up to its calling. That's why we put our faith in Christ, not in the church. And that's also why we seek after God first and try to live out his expectations for the church, not ours.
So what is it all about? A community focuses on what brings it together. It learns from each individual's uniqueness, and honours that uniqueness. A community is not a one-minded enterprise, but a collection of unique people sharing with one another.
Your thoughts are welcome...What is your experience 'in community'? What would a God-given community look like today? How does it act? Where does the church fit in this whole community thing?
Why do we need community? I have many friends who have become disillusioned with church and have thus decided to 'abstain' from community and live their faith out alone. Can we really do this? Whenever I think about going it alone, I harken back to my rowing days. Have you ever tried to train as hard as you could for 18 sessions a week all by yourself? Probably not, and I don't recommend it. It's virtually impossible to push yourself by yourself. We were created to be in community and in fellowship, whether it be in training for sports or in our faith.
Why is there so much disillusionment about the church community? We are never going to get community perfect. We are probably going to be hurt, and our expectations are probably not going to be met. I think we often become disillusioned because the church fails to live up to its calling. That's why we put our faith in Christ, not in the church. And that's also why we seek after God first and try to live out his expectations for the church, not ours.
So what is it all about? A community focuses on what brings it together. It learns from each individual's uniqueness, and honours that uniqueness. A community is not a one-minded enterprise, but a collection of unique people sharing with one another.
Your thoughts are welcome...What is your experience 'in community'? What would a God-given community look like today? How does it act? Where does the church fit in this whole community thing?
posted by TILT at 1:22 PM
4 Comments:
Commenting is so easy!
I was just reading BLue LIke Jazz (good book), and his subtitle for community is "living with freaks." Any thoughts from people who are living/have lived in residence?
Interesting comment, AT. It reminds me of how it used to be popular in church circles to say things like, "I love you in Christ", which really meant, I don't like you at all, but because I'm supposed to, I'll just be nice about it. How's that for authenticity or a complete lack thereof! Being in community doesn't mean everything is always going to be rosy and perfect. Real community lives, breathes, fights. But the key is being open and real. I think we also tend to so often focus on our differences and the negatives we see in others, often out of our own insecurities. If we focused on the unity we have in experiencing Christ's love (first we have to experience it!), then we would realize that we really do love people in Christ!
i think for community to work, you have to be willing to get past the fake-ness, mostly on your own part, but also on the part of other people. you have to desire to know what their life is like, and be willing to open up about yours, not just put on your mask when you talk to ppl. i think especially at Church, it's too easy to never get past the superficial small-talk. to do otherwise requires a time investment, which you don't really get after the service on a sunday morning.
and i think that's probably the largest obstacle to community in churches.
and in my experience, the best way to get over that is to participate in things together, whether Habitat, ultimate frisbee, or whatever. something where you get over the stupid small talk.
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