Have We Described Community Wrongly?
On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, a gunman walked into Robb Elementary School in the small city of Uvalde, Texas, and killed 21 people, including 19 children. Like most people, my heart was troubled by this tragedy. Murder of any life should grieve us all.
News stations everywhere reported on the event, and everyone seemed bothered by this disaster. But as the days passed, attention faded, and we all resumed our individual lives.
I wondered, was my concern simply an emotional response to murder, or did I have a heartfelt response to this community of people? Galatians 6:2 states, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ” (NASB).
Is the command to bear another’s burden limited to those within my own personally defined community? Have I defined community the same way God does? If we are to bear one another’s burdens, who does that include? Could it be that we have defined community wrongly?
Merriam-Webster defines community as a unified body of individuals. Less commonly, a community is a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society.
Community is looking beyond the people who are in our physical proximity, looking beyond the people who look, live, and believe as we do.
According to this definition, community is defined as people who achieve unity or have common features. This kind of community is very limited. By this definition I have family members that are not a part of my community—individuals I love immensely, but with whom I have yet to achieve unity. According to this definition, we wouldn’t be considered a community.
Churches, families, and neighborhoods aren’t always unified, but does that suggest they aren’t communities? Does this limited definition truly reflect the biblical community?
I’m not suggesting that unity is not important. In fact, Psalm 133:1 states, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (NIV)
While I believe unity is key to accomplishing Christ’s mission for believers, I also believe we need a greater understanding of community. I love Helen Keller’s quote, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Today, many people live quite individualistic lives. We live in our own houses. We rely on our own modes of transportation. We have groceries delivered to our homes. We even order dinner that comes to our front door!
Throughout history, humans have lived in small, tight-knit communities and relied on those communities for survival. If we don’t pay attention to the disintegration of our communities, the effects of our isolating choices may be more far-reaching than we can imagine.
Isolation, loneliness, and separation all contribute to growing negative mental health outcomes, poor interpersonal relationships, and dysfunctional communities. These consequences are just another reminder that God never intended for us to live life alone.
Consider this broader view of a community, defined by Bible.org: A Christian community shares a common life in Christ. It moves us beyond the self-interested isolation of private lives and the superficial social contacts that pass for ‘Christian fellowship.’ The biblical ideal of community challenges us to commit ourselves to life together as the people of God.
A biblical view of community is much greater than a collection of homes in a preferred school district. It is more than our cultural connections. It supersedes the shared interests of professional colleagues. Community is a way to see Christ in others.
When we receive love and acceptance from others, we are reminded of how Christ loves and accepts us. It is also a source of accountability and guidance. A community is where we can receive knowledge for growth and correction when needed. It is a place to pray and worship.
James 5:16 states, “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness” (NET).
Christian community is a place to serve. Here, we put the interests and needs of others ahead of our own. It is a place to showcase the light of God. As Matthew 5:16 states, “Let your light shine before people so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.”
Community is living life on earth the way God intended. Community is looking beyond the people who are in our physical proximity, looking beyond the people who look, live, and believe as we do, and looking beyond the simple construct of unity to define who we call our community.
Community calls us to look beyond our individualized, emotional reactions to tragedy and choose to mourn and act with people—like the citizens in the small city of Uvalde, Texas—as if it were our own.
One Response
Hi Dr. Rivers, I don’t believe I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet you. I also am a clinical psychologist (graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary) and an ordained minister through CMC. I really appreciated your thoughtful comments about the value of community. I particularly liked your encouragement for people to reach out beyond those who look, believe, and live like they do. We are in the middle of a series called Flourish and I’m again struck by the necessity of deep and meaningful relationships for humans to thrive. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts