Community

We are a community. A very specific, uniquely defined, distinctive in our design, and purposefully ordained for, “high calling,” functions that are known and not yet revealed. I know I just opened our communication with some heavy statements and thoughts, but stick with me and I will do my best to smooth it out like a well-made bed for resting in peacefully.

Meanwhile, Korah had stirred up the entire community against Moses and Aaron, and they all gathered at the Tabernacle entrance. Then the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to the whole community.
Numbers 16:6 NLT

This is one of the most famous, “insurrection,” stories of all human history. (It is so refreshing to use that word in proper form, especially because it has been used in a malevolent way against me under vile inspiration…) I obviously cannot do any deep exegesis on the content or context, and, therefore, I implore you to familiarize your heart with what happened there. It is so important that it is referenced by Jude as one of the top three most terrible rebellions against God in the whole of scripture.

But, what I am desiring to illuminate is the usage of the word, “community.” Notice, it was used twice: once to highlight the apostate rebels and their followers (about 250 of them) and a second time in reference to God manifesting His very own physical presence among the rest of the, “community,” that is later called, “the church,” in Acts 7:38 (KJV). God showed up to put a huge, glorious stamp of authoritative approval on the leadership of Pastor Moses, the priestly role of Aaron, and the clearly declared commandment to go and do the promised land possession stuff that started the whole massive Exodus account. Community is a big, big thing to God… both when done right AND when done wrong.

Community is a well-used, well-worn word among the faithful elders, and even the newbies, of modern culture and Christian culture alike. There is a battle between them as to who is the real and who is the plastic. This silent, ideological war is having a legitimate impact on our once-Christian society. One of the reasons for that negative impact is the reiterated belief and loyal adherence to the generally accepted idea that all community is good. Even folks who form sadistic and hateful communities do it in recognition that being in a community is a healthy, human necessity. Real, wholesome, and authentic community fits us like our favorite pair of comfortable and properly fitted jeans that are perfectly worn out in all the right places. God created it, and we need to righteously and internally redeem it.

Community is a word that has been used, overused, abused, and even redefined by our broken culture. These underhanded activities are being done to slowly dismantle and eventually destroy this powerful, biblical benefit. The genuine form of community, established and brought forth from the very heart of God, is on the very first page of our Bible, so powerfully and eloquently stated in the simple declaration, “It is not good for man to be alone”… These few words, birthed in the heart of our Creator, established the FIRST divine revelation of good and evil. Good for us to be together, in community… bad to be separated, isolated, or divided. If culture and society can destroy this primary and genesis-type epiphany, they can effectively remove the first solution, from The Father, for the evil that inflicts all humanity.

You have all heard me rail on incessantly (insert eye-roll here): “An isolated Christian is a defeated Christian!”

Community, in English, comes from: common and unity. Consider that statement again, please. What do those two words together mean, in truth, to you and how you live your life… Additionally, how you serve (or do not serve) with and among us.

1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Why is it of such infinite importance that we guard this concept and word with all diligence and strength?

• We are called to be intimately infused into The Body of Christ… and specifically ONE local expression of that body (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4)
• Unity in a community done wrong destroyed the human race (Genesis 6) and almost twice (Genesis 11)
• Unity done right ushered the presence of the comforting Holy Spirit onto the earth in flaming power for ALL eternity as a gift for ALL mankind (Acts 2:1)
• Community is where Jesus promised us His presence would be found (Matthew 18:20)
• The Holy Spirit ordained that healing would flow from here (James 5:16)

These are just a couple of short and quick references to whet your spiritual appetite for the banquet table of what our Good God wants us to know and experience. I pray you to take these scriptural exhortations and drill down into the veracity of their declarations.

I will cut this off here with some of my favs… please meditate on these divine truths in expectation of how important community will be in the coming months and years of advancing THE Great Awakening among humanity.

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:41-47
…
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
Acts 4:31-36

I cannot wait to commune with the ones I love,
Steve