So...the community debate continues. But now I have a new thought process which is radically different than my previous arguments. I believe that my arguments were wrong. Can you believe that? I admitted that I was wrong. Mark this on your calendars...because as my wife can attest...this never happens. However, I also believe that those things I would argue against were wrong. I think that our mindset must be reoriented in regards to community (I use "reoriente" on purpose).
As my friends on the Worship Development Team decided to make me wake at 5:15 in the morning this past Sunday to celebrate Advent...which is another thing that never happens. Well, I take that back...I will wake that early for golf. Although I did not want to go and the last thing I wanted to do that early was spend time with people (I am not a morning person) it was actually quite good. During our little worship service, we all faced the east where the sun was beginning to wake itself. It is here that God slapped me with a new paradigm...for me anyway.
As we gazed upon the sunrise, it was mentioned that we were orienting ourselves to the east, which is believed to be the direction that Jesus will return from. When we are reorienting ourselves, we are turning our focus to the east (which is what orient means) in expectation for the coming Messiah (see? This is Advent!). As we stood there, for the first time I thought to myself...we are in community! For those of you I have had these debates with...this statement may be shocking to you...so...I will leave you on a cliffhanger.
In class today, we talked about the 17th chapter of John when Christ prays to the Father. It is here that Jesus says, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21).
We see that it is Jesus' desire for us to be "one". So, we strive to build community. We should spend time with one another, love one another, act in certain ways to one another, etc. What we forget is that in the passage above, Jesus gives us the example of how to be in unity. The example is His relationship with the Father. It was close...that is undeniable. Jesus' ministry was a ministry of prayer and intimacy with the Father. What we do, however, is interprete this to mean that you and I have to be that way with one another. I agree...however...I think we need to reorient ourselves. The meat of this passage is not on my relationship with you.
As we stood in the circle on that chilly Sunday morning, we looked upon one another...we read Scripture...we prayed...we participated in quality liturgy. However, when we turned and all faced to the east, I saw the picture of what community is. We were oriented to the Savior. We were facing to the east and looking for Christ. Our focus was not on one another...it was on God!
When we try to establish community, we spend a lot of time ensuring that there is fruit. In the words of A.W. Tozer, in his book The Root of Righteousness, he states, "the (church) fathers were concerned with the root of the matter, while their present-day descendants seem concerned only with the fruit.” What Tozer is saying is that in order to pursue righteousness, we have to be focused (or oriented) toward Christ rather than the fruit. The fruit will come with a proper relationship with Christ. If we spend all of our time focusing on manufacturing proper fruit than we miss the source of the fruit...and as we know...without the root, the fruit will die.
So...what is community. My paradigm shift is to say that community is formed with a common focus. A common orientation...to the east...to Christ. Let us cast away the idea that we must produce fruit on our own. We do not have to change people into what we think they should be. If you are oriented to the east...and I am oriented to the east...we are in community. Even if you are on the other side of the world...we are in community because we are abiding in Christ and it is within Christ that we find community with the Body of Christ.
Is community the group of five or so people you hang out with? Or, is community the entire Body of Christ?
This is where I am...trying to correct my orientation. Moving my focus from the fruit to the root...of righteousness...of community...of LIFE!!!!!
1 comment:
Well said.
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