The concept of Christian community is largely absent from the United States, but it is something that I believe we should have been building all along. The comfort, complacency, materialism, and the idea of individualism within the church has lead us to live entirely independent lives from our fellow believer.
When one person suffers a loss of their job or encounters some other hardship, those in the faith should be there to prop him up. Our Christian community should be there to help raise and teach children, encourage one another during the week to walk by faith and avoid temptation, settle disputes without going to worldly judges, and everything else that comes with being of one mind with those you spend time with.
In 1 Corinthians 6:1-5 we read, "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?"
There is MUCH to be said on this passage, but I'll try and keep this short. Paul is almost mocking the church in Corinth for using UNJUST secular judges to make judgments on the believers at the church. The world is unjust, and doesn't have the knowledge of God or His righteousness. So why would believers allow the sinful world to decide on matters pertaining to saints?! We will sit in judgment with God as rulers over the world, so we dare not allow the world to make rulings over us. Revelation 5:10 says, "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
We are in the world but not of it. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 says, "For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."
We should have our own community, and when possible, our own economy within the fellowship of believers. In describing the early church, Acts 2:44-46 says, "And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart."
Their fellowship was a daily thing; they shared things among each other, and gave to others as they had need. Do we do this to ANY degree?
Acts 4:32 says, "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common."
The early church, living under intense persecution, knew that this world was not their home. They understood that their home was in Heaven and they were just passing through. "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3).
We shouldn't live secluded lives, and therefore set aside the Great Commission, but I do believe we should have a closer connection with fellow believers, especially as the days grow darker. And that is exactly what Hebrews 10:25 says: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (emphasis added).
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. - Revelation 22:20
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