At some point in church history, it became tolerated for someone to say that their faith is a “private” thing.  This of course is veiled under the idea that they are actually more caring because they do not want to “bother” others who may not share their beliefs.  Even among professing Christians, there is an idea that there is a divide between their public life, and their private one, and if anyone questions something that they’ve put into the “private life box” in their mind, they become defensive, even countering that the person should maybe “mind their own business”.

So what does the Bible have to tell us about God, and His desire for us to live in community?  Well let’s look at God first.  Our God is a triune God, He exists and always has existed as one God in three persons, existing in perfect harmony within himself.  God made man in his own image, including His communal nature.  We see this everywhere, and know this to be true.  One of the harshest punishments that can be given to someone is to put them into solitary confinement, which can often lead that person to having a mental breakdown.  How else do you explain 90% of Americans professing to be Christian, even showing up to church on Sunday except for a desire to be approved of by others, and have a sense of community?  One quick look around us tells us that not even a majority of those 90% of people truly love God and are seeking after His will for their lives.

During creation, after every work of God, He claims that what he sees is “good”. That is, until he gets to Adam, and sees that He is alone.  Genesis 2:18 – “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”  

So from the beginning God created us to be in community.  The problem is that even though we were designed for community, we’ve got a big barrier keeping us from pursuing real Christian community – namely sin.  Both pride and the seeking the approval of man verses the approval of God keep us from pursuing relationships with other Christians that would challenge us to grow in our love for God and holiness.  Now some of us are saying, well I tried to be open with someone once, and they beat me down judging me, or they went around gossiping about what I’d told them.  Every Christian has some of that in our background – the difference is, I can’t judge God, or what He has said is good for me, based on the actions of sinful man.

From personal experience, Christian community is one of the hardest things to pursue.  You have different personalities, different schedules, different life stages, etc.  But like most things that are difficult, the reward is equally great.  I cannot count the amount of times that I would have fallen deep into a pattern of sin, were it not for the intervention, encouragement, and rebuke given to me by other Godly men who knew me, and what was going on with me.  This is Biblical.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

Ecclesiastes 4:12 – “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

So what of the person that goes it alone.  Who says to himself that all they need is themselves, that they don’t want anyone else to “slow them down”, etc.

Jeremiah 50:31-32 – “Behold, I am against you, O proud one, declares the Lord GOD of hosts, for your day has come, the time when I will punish you.  The proud one shall stumble and fall, with none to raise him up, and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all that is around him.”

My exhortation is simple.  Each of us needs Christian community.  For many, this is new, you have never intentionally pursued deep relationships with other Christians, given them time to grow, to be open and vulnerable with our struggles, to seek out counsel in all areas of life, including the ones labeled “private” before.  This is what it means to walk in the light, this is where God is at work, to free you from your sin that binds you, keeps you from the God you love, and the peace and joy He brings.

My challenge to us all is to take one step today, towards deeper community.  Maybe that’s getting involved with a small group within church, maybe it’s making that small group and the people in it a greater priority for you, maybe that’s grabbing dinner with a Christian brother or sister to discuss your struggles and ask for their counsel and prayer, maybe it’s bringing to light a struggle or sin that has remained hidden, but that God wants to heal you from.  Whatever it is, know that God is with you, there is no condemnation for those in Jesus Christ, and we’re all here to encourage and spur one another on towards God daily.

Grace and Peace,
Adam