The Church of Community
The feast was simple, rich, and somber. A time of remembrance of victory, freedom, trials, and death. Like every year before, the man reclined with those closest to him. Family and friends ate food bitter, sweet, fresh, and fired on cooking coals. Everything revolved around a singular focal point - remembrance. Remember the past, remember the present and do not fail to remember in the future.
This was not the origin of the church. This was not the origin of community. But here, at this moment, both co-mingled and melded into something unique, something mysterious. Here we find people with hopes, dreams, fears and concerns bound by a simple belief and together collected, a moment of community. Yet the purpose of this little gathering is not for the sake of enjoyment, though there is merriment, it is not for the sake of politicking, there is no agenda, and it is not for the sake of empowerment or the betterment of society. This clustering of souls forms out of a heart and understanding that though tragedy, even death, befalls us salvation is at hand. Together we can live and breath fellowship in suffering, in joy, in failure and in success. The aim becomes not achieving some comeuppance for our toils or for frolicking in the general wellspring of goodness sought in life. The aim, quite simply, is to remember.
How often are we found reminiscing with friends, telling tales of humor or tragedy as the mood befalls us? On how many occasions do we relive specific moments of our lives or our parents lives or the lives of our grandparents through emotional stories sweet or bitter? We long to remember where we came from. We long to continue remembering all those moments that connect us to one another.
Isn't that what church is? Or has it fallen from it's original design? Was not the early church a gathering of simple people remembering together the most powerful, life changing moment in their lives? The moment when Christ revealed He was giving up what is priceless to gain what we cannot afford?
Some time ago I was witness to a community that challenged my paradigm of church. The day was a Saturday. And like many Saturdays, this group of thirty or so people (though not all were in attendance) met together for no other reason that enjoy each other, enjoy community. This day everyone traveled to an orchard and spent several hours roaming among the rows of trees, filling there bags with apples and talking. Not sermonizing, not lecturing, not even advising in any formal manner. They simply talked like any one would talk with a friend. And this was church. Granted, they still met together on Sundays for their time of liturgy, but always to follow was a meal together.
These regular gatherings are considered more important, more precious than the few hours they sing, pray and read scripture together. Without this active community lifestyle, their church would fail to have substance, to have true reason. Their gatherings outside of the typical Sunday morning rituals is the mortar that solidifies their community and adds to the value of church. Church no longer becomes the venue or forum for get-togethers and intimate fellowship. Which, perhaps, is why most "churches" fail to impact their "communities." The order is reversed.
Christ did not sermonize or necessarily teach without first developing fellowship, community. In two instances of broadcast teaching and instruction to the multitudes of people were quickly followed by a time of eating together, meals. And such was the importance of this time that He miraculously expanded the meager lunch of an individual to satiate thousands. Often we read of Him eating, even feasting with others. Many important moments of His life on earth are connected to meals.
This community experience has caused me to reevaluate our perception, our paradigm of "church." In most cases dictionaries will define church first as a building or place of worship. Yet we, as a community, are referred to as the "church." As such we have forgotten the element of true community and replaced an organic element with a fabricated means for self-sufferance. We long for connectedness that we have sold for social acceptance. We long for intimacy that we have exchanged for political like-mindedness.
Is there any wonder then that many chafe from the rote traditions of weekly obligations to hear one man or woman dissertate on the fundamentals of shoulds and should-nots, rights and wrongs. Perhaps a reboot of church is in need. Perhaps the time has come not for another reformation, or even a revolution, but a rebirth. Perhaps we should begin together as a community and remember why we're here again.
Isn't that what church is? Or has it fallen from it's original design? Was not the early church a gathering of simple people remembering together the most powerful, life changing moment in their lives? The moment when Christ revealed He was giving up what is priceless to gain what we cannot afford?
Some time ago I was witness to a community that challenged my paradigm of church. The day was a Saturday. And like many Saturdays, this group of thirty or so people (though not all were in attendance) met together for no other reason that enjoy each other, enjoy community. This day everyone traveled to an orchard and spent several hours roaming among the rows of trees, filling there bags with apples and talking. Not sermonizing, not lecturing, not even advising in any formal manner. They simply talked like any one would talk with a friend. And this was church. Granted, they still met together on Sundays for their time of liturgy, but always to follow was a meal together.
These regular gatherings are considered more important, more precious than the few hours they sing, pray and read scripture together. Without this active community lifestyle, their church would fail to have substance, to have true reason. Their gatherings outside of the typical Sunday morning rituals is the mortar that solidifies their community and adds to the value of church. Church no longer becomes the venue or forum for get-togethers and intimate fellowship. Which, perhaps, is why most "churches" fail to impact their "communities." The order is reversed.
Christ did not sermonize or necessarily teach without first developing fellowship, community. In two instances of broadcast teaching and instruction to the multitudes of people were quickly followed by a time of eating together, meals. And such was the importance of this time that He miraculously expanded the meager lunch of an individual to satiate thousands. Often we read of Him eating, even feasting with others. Many important moments of His life on earth are connected to meals.
This community experience has caused me to reevaluate our perception, our paradigm of "church." In most cases dictionaries will define church first as a building or place of worship. Yet we, as a community, are referred to as the "church." As such we have forgotten the element of true community and replaced an organic element with a fabricated means for self-sufferance. We long for connectedness that we have sold for social acceptance. We long for intimacy that we have exchanged for political like-mindedness.
Is there any wonder then that many chafe from the rote traditions of weekly obligations to hear one man or woman dissertate on the fundamentals of shoulds and should-nots, rights and wrongs. Perhaps a reboot of church is in need. Perhaps the time has come not for another reformation, or even a revolution, but a rebirth. Perhaps we should begin together as a community and remember why we're here again.
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