Community

Are You Part of an Authentic Community?

There is an important word that is making its way back into the church: Community.

Of course, the idea has always been there, but we have distorted it over time. What do people see when they walk into our church gatherings?

When I was in college, I had a Bible professor who gave a good analogy of the way a church should feel by pointing us to a familiar song. He was referring to the theme song from the hit TV show Cheers.

Go Ahead. Take a minute and sing the song in your head (or out loud if you dare).

Okay, here's some help:

I did hear of one church that actually used this song during their "greeting" time. Could you imagine visiting this church for the first time, walking in apprehensively, then witnessing this time of fellowship?

Don't you want to go "where everybody knows your name?"

Jesus loved community; but only the authentic kind, where everyone can be themselves and show their problems.

He spent his time on earth eating with, talking with, and getting to know the outcasts and "sinners" of society. No one had to pretend to have it all together to be in his circle.

Occasionally, Jesus went to dinner at the home of a Pharisee, or "good church person." He usually went there to yell at them. In fact, I may be wrong, but the only people I remember him ever getting mad at were church people.

In Luke 7:36-50, Jesus ate at a Pharisee's house and scolded his host for looking down on a woman with a bad reputation.

In Luke 11:37-54, he ate dinner with some Pharisees and then gave them a good verbal beating about hypocrisy and hindering people from knowing God.

In Luke 14:1-14 he chastised the Pharisees over dinner because they only invited people of their class to dinner instead of feeding those who are in need.

I have to chuckle as I can picture Jesus visiting our world today, walking in on a deacons' lunch, and letting them have it before walking out and heading to the street corner to tell the prostitutes how valuable they are to God.

What if he came to our women's ministry meeting?

Would he find that we are really reaching out to the world, or would he find a bunch of socials for church women?

There is a reason that we need to get past this perfectionist thing, and it is a bigger reason than to just make us feel better.

We need to get over ourselves and stop trying to communicate to the world that we have it all together, so that the world will not think they need to have it all together to be accepted.

People need Jesus, and they won't find him in the middle of a place where he wouldn't go.

So we need to start by being authentic in our relationships. As Christian women, we need to be able to connect with one another without having our "comparison guard" up. We need to encourage each other, sharpen each other, and connect with each other to discuss what we are learning in authentic community.

What is your church doing to create authentic community?

Share your story about what your church is doing to create a sense of community.

Do you have a website? Add your bio and link.

Encouragement Resources

Sacred Friendships - Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith By Robert W Kellemen & Susan M Ellis / B M H Books

Encouraging One Another, Women of Faith Bible Studies By Thomas Nelson

Women of Faith Friendship and Encouragement Cards By Dayspring

With One Heart: Unity In the Church By Thelma Wells / Word Entertainment Inc

Treasures of Encouragement: Women Helping Women in the Church By Sharon Betters / P & R Publishing

Women Helping Women: A Biblical Guide to the Major Issues Women Face By Elyse Fitzpatrick / Harvest House Publishers

Finding a Mentor, Being a Mentor: Sharing Our Lives as Women of God By Donna Otto / Harvest House Publishers

The Connecting Church: Beyond Small Groups to Authentic Community By Randy Frazee / Zondervan