Theology of Community

WE BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE CREATED FOR COMMUNITY.
There is a groove in the heart of every human for authentic relationships. We have an intrinsic desire to be part of, and belong to, something; however, the suburban world in which most Americans live is a great obstacle to this God-given desire. Consider these observations: George Gallup Jr. concluded from his studies and polls that Americans are among the loneliest people in the world.[i] That is amazing considering the ease of transportation, the availability of “connecting” technology, and the massive amount of people on the planet. Gallup also offered the following insight into isolation:

We are physically detached from each other. We change places of residence frequently. One survey revealed that seven in ten do not know their neighbors. As many as one-third of Americans admit to frequent periods of loneliness...[ii] 

We believe Scripture has the answer for our communal thirst.

WE ARE CREATED FOR COMMUNITY WITH GOD.
The Bible teaches that people are created for community, deep relationships with other people. Several Biblical texts illustrate this point. Ecclesiastes 3:11 shows how God put eternity into the hearts of men and women. We were created with a deep groove that only community with God can fill. When Jesus was talking with the woman at the well, He offered water that would quench her thirst. Only God can quench the communal thirst of the human heart.

WE ARE CREATED FOR COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE.
The stream of community broadens to the body of Christ. After God created man, He makes an important statement in Genesis 2:18, “it is not good for man to be alone.” (Notice, this was before sin entered the picture.) There is also a groove cast into the heart of men and women for earthly companionship. As practical evidence of this fact, consider the emergence (or explosion) of coffee shops and social-networking sites. One of the primary images used for the New Testament church is the body, with each part of the body being interdependent and connected to the other. An essential truth: People need to be involved in meaningful (and constant) community or they will continue on indefinitely in a state of intense loneliness.

We believe the church body provides the solution to our communal thirst for God and authentic relationships with others.

Proper community ultimately reflects the image of God. Therefore, in an effort to promote Biblical community, we deeply and passionately encourage our members and attenders to be involved in the lives of others. Our hope for community is more than you getting to know other people. Rather, our hope is for you to engage in the battle for deep and lasting relationships within our church body. We find several characteristics of Biblical community:

1. Sacrificial Love – Sacrificial love is a necessary component of Biblical community. In 1 John 3:16-18, John commands us to love not in word or talk but in deed and in truth. Before this command, John shows us the purest example of love, Christ laying down His life for us. Biblical community requires this sort of sacrificial love. It requires us placing the needs of others above our own.   
2. Consistency – In Acts 2, the Spirit of God fell upon the people causing revival to break out. By the conclusion of chapter 2, the church is gathered and a descriptive picture of Biblical community emerges. One element clearly observed in the early church was their consistent gatherings, both corporately and in smaller groups, to encourage and pray for one another. Biblical community only exists when people are regularly meeting together.
3. Worship – Another element clearly observed in the book of Acts is authentic worship. They worshiped in a variety of ways that included the Lord’s Supper, singing, fellowship, and reading the Word. They were “praising God and having favor with all the people.” We also want to create a culture of community that worships the Lord through the Lord’s Supper, singing, fellowship, and reading the Scriptures. 
4. Authenticity – The last principle describing Biblical community is probably the most difficult. Authenticity is allowing people to know the real you. Authenticity means people know you “behind the scenes.” Biblical community only surfaces where authenticity develops within a group of people. Therefore, we want to create environments where people are comfortable confessing their sins to one another and praying for each other (James 5:16), where we can be challenged to put sin to death and live surrendered to Jesus.

[i] Noted in his book, The People’s Religion (New York: Macmillan, 1989).

[ii] George Gallup Jr., Emerging Trends, vol. 19, no. 3 (March 1997).