The Call to Community
By Rev. Kyle Norman
“Let us not stop meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
When our son was young, his mother and I put him in a competitive bowling league. Every Saturday, we found ourselves at the local bowling alley, watching him throw his spares, his strikes, and his splits. It was great fun, and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Part of what made bowling a good fit for our son was that it was a solitary activity. He didn’t have to rely on any other person but himself. When it was his time to bowl, he stood on the line and did his best. He was in control.
But as we went on through the years, we noticed a curious thing. As much as his bowling appeared solitary, our son did better when he was surrounded by other players. When he felt connected to a team of sorts, he bowled better because he had people to encourage him and support him, who would maybe pick him up if something didn’t go that well, and who might give him pointers based on their experience.
I wonder if this same dynamic applies to our life with God. After all, we tend to view our spiritual life as completely solitary; we stand on the line of faith, and we do our spiritual activities to the best of our ability, and in the end, it’s all up to us.
But that’s not the biblical way of faith. Scripture calls us to continue meeting together – to remain connected to a wider group of faith players who can encourage us, support us, lift us up when something goes wrong, and even give us pointers along the way. We are not meant to live our spiritual life alone. I wonder if this is the reason why so many people find the current trend of faith deconstruction completely isolating and ultimately stifling. As much as it is wrapped up in the language of freedom and liberation, what it often does is leave us moorless; we stand alone, cut off from anyone who might join us in our spiritual life.
I’m sure there was pressure within the early church for people to go one’s own way. After all, as years moved on, as the community struggled with controversy over membership and protocol, and as persecution seemed to continually increase, there were probably those who thought, “I don’t need the community. I can live out my faith privately, in the safety of my home. Because it’s just about believing in Jesus, isn’t it?”
But then the divinely inspired word comes, “Let’s not stop meeting together.” Community is important, primarily because forces you outside of yourself. We are stretched beyond our own comforts and self-protections. The fellowship of faith is transformative. Paul writes that “if one part [of the body] suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). The Christian community reveals itself as it holds the raw and unkempt needs of one of its members. In doing so, it holds its own vulnerability. And yes, it’s true that the community is flawed, imperfect, and messy. It is made up of messy people, after all. But the imperfection of the community doesn’t negate the transformative nature of it, our call to it, or the spirit of God that can be met within it.
Jesus called people into his community. The gathering of the disciples was the first act in his earthly ministry. He called people together in his resurrection as well. After denying him, and fleeing from him, they are brought together to form an important and world-changing community. In fact, it is interesting to note that the only person who does not reconnect with the disciple community is Judas. Following his betrayal, Judas remains completely isolated and alone. He exists entirely by himself, alone with his guilt, shame, and devastation. He travels his spiritual road by himself and ends his life in the same manner. Could it be that telling ourselves that we live our spiritual life alone actually condemns us to a very lonely and agonizing journey?
Intersecting Faith and Life:
In the church, we are all in the same place. We all have experienced times of rich blessing and times of lonely isolation. We all have had profound successes and profound struggles. So, what would it look like to let other people care for you? How might you drop your guard and disclose your need?
Letting people walk with you doesn’t have to involve much. It could be as simple as asking to have your name on a prayer list, attending a service at your local church, or maybe asking to go for coffee with someone. In the end, the what does not matter as much as the who. Like my son with his bowling, we simply do better spiritually when we surround ourselves with others and find ourselves a part of a larger body. So, let’s not stop meeting together but embrace the presence of the Lord in the gift of community.
For Further Reading:
Hebrews 10:19-15
1 Corinthians 12:25-27
Why Are We Told to Not Give Up Meeting Together?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/whyframestudio
The Reverend Dr. Kyle Norman is the Rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, located in Kamloops BC, Canada. He holds a doctorate in Spiritual formation and is a sought-after writer, speaker, and retreat leader. His writing can be found at Christianity.com, crosswalk.com, ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada, and many others. He also maintains his own blog revkylenorman.ca. He has 20 years of pastoral experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual discouragement.
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