Every now and then I take a step back and look around at the community around me. Usually this happens when I’m working together with a group of people towards a common goal, and whenever I have the ability to see something so large between so many coming together, it’s always an amazing experience.
Yes, this group of people isn’t perfect.
Yes, I don’t know all of them.
Yes, I certainly don’t agree with them on everything.
In fact, I don’t even like some of these people.
But we’re united in a cause.
We’re all so different, all going in different directions, all having unique hopes, dreams, worries, and fears, and yet, somehow by the grace of God, we’re all working together on this, whether that be writing a thank you card for someone who has blessed us or working on a team to win a game.
Sin has ruined a lot of things, and it’s ruined companionship and unity. Sometimes teams break up, sometimes friends separate, sometimes we can’t come together at all because we can’t get along. But when we do, when we throw away prejudice, jealousy, bitterness, and anger to unite in something more important than ourselves, it’s a beautiful thing.
Community isn’t ever perfect because it’s made up of imperfect people. But community is a gift from God.
Of all groups and peoples, the church community should be more united than any. But unfortunately, we often aren’t driven by the right thing: to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. Instead we’re bogged down by politics, denominational differences, and many, many other things.
What is the answer to unity? To a community driving towards the same goal?
Christ.
Ephesians 2: 13-16 says,
“But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”
Community is important. Man wasn’t made to be alone. We should unite under the banner of Christ and work to do the good work God has set before us: to use our unique gifts and talents, whether in stories, art, teaching, parenting, and countless other things, for the glory of God and to show him to the world.
This is such a good reminder, thank you!
Amen!
Yes, the church has let too many little issues fracture it, instead of focusing on one issue - repenting from sin and striving to be more and more like Jesus who needs to be the center of our community.