Step Four: Community

I recently made the mistake of downloading a survival game on my phone. I love video games and used to play them constantly. My compromise, once I became a husband and father, was to have a game on my phone that’s good for my brain. Most of the time, it’s about puzzles or tactics. I play them for two to four weeks, get the hang of them, and then delete them. However, this survival game includes an alliance you can join, along with a live chat room where you can talk with all the members from around the world through an impressive and instant translation button. I have people from at least 15 different countries just in my alliance alone. I may have started the game for a fun little brain workout, but I’ve stayed for two months now because of the people. Most of the chat focuses on the game, but there are many times throughout the day when it evolves into friends catching up and being there for each other. This made me realize that, over the last seven or eight years, I’ve forgotten how important community is. I’ve been so focused on serving Jesus that I haven’t been partaking in His community.

I’m a pretty big introvert and truly enjoy being alone, but I now know that I need people. It took me going through serious depression to realize it, but what I came to see is that community is the beginning of Jesus’ heart. Community done right is about me being Jesus to others while they are Jesus to me. Hebrews 10:24-25 says: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

I love the visual of “stirring up one another to love and good works.” It captures how intentional we should be with others, but also how natural it becomes when we have Jesus in our hearts. Jesus doesn’t want His brothers and sisters to let themselves just sit there and settle, allowing all the good parts to sink to the bottom, out of sight and unused. He wants us to continually walk in His love, and for that to drive our actions. Community does that. A community for Christ is a safe place to deal with the pain of life, to be broken, and to be lifted up by those around you. It’s also a place where you step in and support those who are hurting and need the physical presence of Jesus in their lives. It’s not hard to do, but it takes us being intentional about it and thinking beyond ourselves. It takes us focusing on Jesus and then seeing how we can be Him.

One of my favorite verses about friendship or community is: “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” Proverbs 27:6. A true community or friendship is one you can trust when they call you out on something. A bad community, however, will just encourage you no matter what direction you go. I know that it is hard to get to that point with people, but am I at least trying? We are all responsible for the direction we are going. I don’t believe that there is neutrality in spiritual warfare, and so I think that we are either being refined spiritually or allowing ourselves to be broken down. So, am I seeking to improve my community? Am I surrounding myself with people who will bring me closer to Jesus, or farther away from Him? And am I someone who brings my friends closer to the love of Jesus, or farther away from Him? The first step of Christianity is going to Christ, but the second step is Him telling us to go love others. His entire message and life were about loving others in spirit and in truth, and He sent His Holy Spirit in me to do that and more. So how can I not use that gift!? I certainly don’t have anything better to do, or anything better I could do.

As a pretty big introvert, I’m not a big fan of community. As someone who was once suicidal, I didn’t want community. As a Christian, I’m told that I need community. So, I simply ask that you look around, as I am, and ask yourself: “Does my community look like Christ, and do I look like Christ to my community?”