Living in Community

Hebrews 10:24and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

These are verses we often hear discussed within the context of telling us we should not miss church on Sundays. I’ve been reading a book- Broken Down House– by Paul Tripp, and one of the things he discusses in the book that has really made me think is this idea of living in Christian community. He suggests that living in community is much more than just meeting at church for an hour on Sunday. Living in a Christian community involves really knowing each other and taking care of each other, and holding each other accountable.

I think this is what Paul has in mind in Galatians 6:

2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

There is a lot more to bearing each others burdens than meeting together once a week. In order to bear burdens, we have to really get to know people on a more personal level. It might be hard; it might be messy; it might be out of our comfort zones. But, I think this is what it means to live in a Christian community.

2 Responses to Living in Community
  1. Andrea
    October 19, 2010 | 9:21 am

    It takes real commitment and heart to be able to bear each other’s burdens and live in Christian community. It is so unusual in our modern culture that when people see it they are tempted to call it a cult. I believe we live this way on a small scale with those we “love” but I wonder what it would be like to live the way the Christians did in the early Church.

  2. Val Garner
    October 22, 2010 | 2:36 pm

    I think in many ways, true Christian community is a rare find. I don’t know if that can truly happen on an hour on Sunday morning. I agree with you!