So I’m continuing to ponder–to re-imagine–what church community could look like if the church itself wasn’t defined by its regular meeting. (Read this previous post to get the background.)
My blogger friend Ben left a heartfelt comment on that post about how difficult it is these days to build community. It seems like there is so much in our culture that works against it; not only do we tend to be more private and secluded as individuals, but we also are so busy with things like work, school, soccer practice and so on, that we no longer have time to invest in church community.
But I think all the studying I’ve been doing on the missional approach is finally starting to soak in, because even as I found myself relating to Ben’s comments, my mind started kicking into gear in a whole new direction….
What if we’ve been looking at the equation from the wrong side? What if we looked at this from another angle?
Earlier today I was blogging in a gourmet coffee shop in downtown Tulsa. It was toward the end of lunch, and the place was full of people. I looked around and realized that I was the only one with my laptop open; everyone else was busily chatting with one another. (Shame on me.) What was happening in front of me? Community.
As individualistic as our Western culture is…community still happens. It’s a need in the human soul that runs deeper than culture. As a species, we can’t do without it, and when we deliberately shun community for an extended length of time, we start to go nuts. Community for us doesn’t look like it did 50 years ago, but it hasn’t gone away. We just have to know where to look for it.
Think about it…in all those places that take up so much of our time–work, soccer practice, PTA, whatever–community is happening in some form. So what if, instead of trying (in frustration) to re-generate interest in typical church activities, we began to build community where we find it? What if we started adapting to the changes in our culture instead of trying to compete with them?
What if we started looking for where people hang together, and built relationships there? And what if out of those relationships, we were able to minister Christ’s love to people as they began to trust us? And what if some of those people came into a saving relationship with Christ because of encounters like that? The result? Christian community, within community. Isn’t that actually how it’s supposed to be done?
What if we changed our approach from trying to draw people back into our buildings and programs, to teaching our people to take this sense of community out where community happens? Wouldn’t that even bond us in a way that no multitude of meetings could do?
This is actually what I mean when I say we need stop being defined by our regular meetings. What if we saw ourselves as the church all the time, and not just on Sundays? We don’t really need more meetings, or more organized activities, or even necessarily more organized ministry opportunities. We just need to change the way we see ourselves.
Again…we need to gather, we need to assemble. To meet or not to meet–that isn’t the question. 🙂 The question is, how do we get beyond letting our meetings be the end-all, be-all of our church experience? How do we truly be the church and not just go to church, without piling on more commitments than we can bear? I think at least part of the answer is to be the church where we are–to be the church where people are–to learn what it means to build community where we find it. It will look different probably every time, because community and culture differ from place to place. But when we start thinking this way, I think we will all start looking a lot more like Jesus to the world.
These are just my thoughts on the matter. What are yours? Any other ideas?
Wayward Son
Musician. Composer. Recovering perfectionist. Minister-in-transition. Lover of puns. Hijacker of rock song references. Questioner of the status quo.
I'm not really a rebel. Just a sincere Christ-follower with a thirst for significance that gets me into trouble. My quest has taken me over the fence of institutional Christianity. Here are some of my random thoughts along the way. Read along, join in the conversation. Just be nice.
View all posts by Wayward Son →
Jeff,
I think this is good stuff. Most of the churches I’ve ever been part of have had this idea that the only place one can use their spiritual gifts is within the walls of the church building. But, that’s not true. Because, the Great Commission is all about going into all the world and making disciples of every nation.
Lost people are definitely not going into church buildings these days for the most part. As you said Jeff, the Bible does say that we are the church. What a better way to go into all the world and preach the gospel, and make disciples of every nation, than to go where the people already are gathering. It’s exactly what Jesus did. Besides there are more opportunities for a person to use their spiritual gifts out in the world than inside the walls of a “church” these day.
Making community where we are also gives us a better opportunity to build relationships with others than at a church meeting. Once a relationship is built with someone there are greater inroads to lead them to Christ anyway.
This is really getting interesting.
Blessings,
Gary
I’ve been part of a community like this many years ago. See this post on my blog
I looked around and realized that I was the only one with my laptop open; everyone else was busily chatting with one another. (Shame on me.) What was happening in front of me? Community.
To my left, two guys are talking about the “babes” they bedded last night. Over there is a guy on his phone talking with a co-worker who is gossiping with him about the boss. The two ladies at the counter? Who won American Idol last night. That guy over there, heads down with that other guy with the notepad? They’re working on their soon to be published book: “Loving One-Another: getting past our petty differences on Abortion…” That guy over there is on the phone with his lawyer who is trying to get him a shorter sentence in his tax-evasion trial. And of course, Mom and Daughter are talking about whether she should divorce dad because she doesn’t like his view on whether or not children should obey heir parents.
Community.
Just because lots of people are doing something doesn’t mean for a minute that it’s right or good, or even worthwhile.
Idolizing “community” without first ascertaining what kind of “community” it is is kinda like looking at the Tower of Babel and thinking, “Golly – now there’s a community!”
Community for the hell of it is probably exactly that.
RZ
(exactly one degree of separation).
Gary,
I agree…it is getting interesting, for me too. 🙂 The relationship-building part of this is key–both in relating to other believers and to others. I’m thinking that when church is all about the meeting, it’s very difficult to build relationships. Not only is it hard to talk the back of someone’s head, but it’s also not very good protocol during service. 😀
StevenS,
Thanks for the comment, and the link. Awesome example.
RZ,
Dude, all that was going on around you?? Where are you drinking your coffee?
A few points for clarity here. First–no one here is “idolizing” community, only saying that community happens. Second–my discussion was essentially about altering our approach to reaching people by going where they are, rather than try to get them to come where we are. “Community Where We *Find* It”, not “Community for the Hell of It.” Third–it should not surprise or dismay us to find that sinful people have less-than-stellar conversations within their communities; I’m sure Jesus heard His share of it while He was hanging out with the sinners. How can we reach these people if we are so busy being offended by what they are saying, or judging them for it?
We are not called into a sterile environment; we are called to be light in dark places. But light by nature overcomes darkness. I can see no reason whatsoever why as believers we could not create some sense of life-giving community within the context you described, without being defiled by it. Jesus did it all the time, and He is our example. And it’s important to remember that we are not *condoning* sin simply by being in its vicinity.
Great ideas Jeff. I had a friend say to me recently, “Now don’t lose your faith since you aren’t going to church.” I just smiled at her.
I’ve got to say that I’ve heard some pretty surprising conversations (and gossip) within the confines of church walls. So the community within an institutional church really hasn’t been such an all wonderful, positive influence for me either. I like the idea of “making community where we are”. That type of community feels much less contrived than the community you find in some churches.
those that belong to Christ are part of His body. however we are have something in common with those that are not part of His body, we are still sinners.
the body of Christ is the church.
the place where believers meet is not the church. that is what is confusing to so many people. it is just a meeting place, a home, a large building, a gym, a coffee house…it is not a church.
we are the church.
now, with that in mind, just think what the church does.
it walks, talks, moves from place to place, it goes every place our body, voice, written words (like on this blog)can go.
the church/we can do anything that our body is able to do plus what the Holy Spirit does through us.
now for the word community…
it is a group of people that hold something in common. common is something that is shared by all.
the church, believers (that’s us), we go into the world, our community, for we all share the world in common.
the church/we relate with human beings. we all share that in common. the world and all humanity is our community.
we/the body
are not perfect
but, God works through us.
church : you, me, everyone in the body of Christ. goes in buildings and outside of buildings. the Holy Spirit lives in and works through us. we belong to God.
community: mankind in the world.
building: shelter from the elements.
outside: not in a building.