Together We Stand…

Wow! It’s been a long break between my blog posts, but with the holidays and my work schedule, well, the break was necessary. We’ve been looking since October at what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. That word, disciple, means a learner, a follower, someone who is committed to Jesus. I want to be known as a disciple.

To grow as a disciple, we’ve talked about the importance of Bible reading, prayer, having a regular quiet time with God, and about our individual ministry and service to others, all of which are vital if we are to grow in spiritual maturity.

Today I want to talk about another absolutely necessary part of spiritual growth: community. 

Years ago I heard a man from the northern U.S. tell a story about a time he was visiting in the South, eating breakfast at a restaurant. He noticed that everything on the menu came with grits. There was nothing you could get that didn’t have grits with it. He had never been sure what grits are made of, so he asked the waitress, “What exactly is a grit?” Her response was, “Honey, a grit doesn’t come by itself. That’s just the way grits are. They only come with each other.” A grit doesn’t come by itself. They come in community.

Human beings are like grits. You are not here on your own. Part of why you are who you are is because there have been people who have touched your life — parents, neighbors, friends, and teachers. There’s been a whole community of people who have helped to shape you, and you carry them around inside of you.

And there are others around you who are constantly looking at you, and you are being an example to them, good or bad. You are helping to shape who they are. 

You are created to do life with other people. As a believer, God has called you to do life with other believers. You aren’t meant to live your life alone. You aren’t meant to be an isolated Christian. The English writer John Donne said a long time ago, “No man is an island separate to himself.” We simply are not made that way.

One of the greatest examples of community in the Bible is found in Acts 2:44-47 – And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

This is how the church should be, believers serving one another, worshiping together, helping each other to grow in our faith. Community means sharing each others’ joys and hurts. It means receiving from others when we’re in need and giving to others when they’re in need. It means holding each other accountable and being held accountable by people who love us. Community means having people who can listen to our concerns and fears and struggles, and being there to listen to theirs. That kind of community is absolutely essential to our growth in Christ.

Kim and I lived in the same small town for 29 years before we moved to our current location. We didn’t know a single person in this entire county. We began attending church right away, but it wasn’t until we joined a small group that we actually made friends here. And as we’ve gone through life together the last year and a half, I know that these friendships will last a lifetime. We’ve helped each other through difficult times, prayed for and with each other, celebrated victories with each other, and we haven’t been afraid to call each other out when that’s been needed. Trust me, it’s much easier to take “correction” from someone when I know that person loves me. 

To many Christians, doing church is simply attending a worship service once a week. While worship services are a vital part of the life of a disciple, the truth is that sitting in rows looking at each other’s backs is not community. 

Community is a group of people sitting in a circle, looking at each other, getting close enough to know each other, to care about each other, to challenge each other and hold each other accountable, to confess, to forgive. This is where community takes place, this is where true spiritual growth takes place.

I want to encourage you to seek out community. Find a prayer partner, or a small circle of Christian friends, or find a church that offers small groups as a ministry. Don’t just attend church and experience the worship service and then spend the rest of your life in isolation from other believers. Find a group of people who will help you grow in your walk with God while you help them in their walk with God. If you search for this, I know that God will faithfully lead you to it. 

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