thoughts on genuine community

Lets start off with three verse from three different men: Jesus, the apostle Paul and the apostle John:

Jesus - "And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.  Holy Father keep them in your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one ... But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world that they have my joy fulfilled in them." (John 17:11,13)

Paul - "complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind" (Philippians 2:2)

John - "that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; as indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.  And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete" (1 John 1:3-4)

This really blew me away when I saw the close parallels between their hearts.  Jesus, is the founder of our faith, and Paul and John both pillars of the church as apostles.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the other two under-shepherds.  They are leaders.  As leaders they said that the completion and fulfillment of their own joy is in seeing unity within the believers!  Their joy is full in seeing UNITY in community.  That they would have genuine and meaningful fellowship themselves in having fellowship with Father God and Jesus Christ and they are sealed as a community by the Holy Spirit.



Isn't this what we really desire too?  To have meaningful, genuine relationships in community?  But do we really have this? Can we say that we really have mutually beneficial relationships and community in our churches and with our friends?  But what does this look like and how do we get there? Relationship are so diluted and watered-down by technology.  I mean a lot of people in my generation are have grown up learning how to express emotion in front of a computer screen and not face to face with a parent, sibling, or friend.  Honestly lots of us haven't even experienced real community!

Now I very readily concede: I am a college student, I am young.  God has only recently been forming this in my head and I am seeking to actually live out this real community in life.  But from seeing the hearts of Jesus, Paul, and John God has shown me three characteristics of genuine God-glorifying, mutually beneficial community:

1) A genuine, God-glorifying, mutually beneficial community is UNITED in fellowship with God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of God's Word; in fellowship with each other by the seal of the Holy Spirit.
2) A genuine, God-glorifying, mutually beneficial community is SELFLESS, seeking the welfare of others before their own.
3) A genuine, God-glorifying, mutually beneficial community is PURPOSED in obedience to Christ's Lordship and obedience the the authority of God's Word to fulfill the work of Christ as the body of Christ.

Is this where we see our relationships? Our churches? Our schools and campuses?  Optimistically we want to say yes, but there is always a level of intimacy with God and with each other that we have not met yet.  So how do we get deeper? How can we live in genuine, intimate, God-glorifying, mutually beneficial community? Well if we are going to be united in fellowship to God and to each other, then we have to submit ourselves to Christ's Lordship, submit ourselves to God's Word.  If we are going to be selfless, we have to submit to each other in humility and love.  If we are going to be purposed and truly fulfill the Great Commission, well for this one, I suggest we submit to prayer.  We cannot accomplish the work of God by ourselves, we can't even accomplish it with each other.  It is only God that soften hearts, it is only God that changes lives, and it is only God that brings growth.  If we want to be used by God and purposed to this end, then let's submit to prayer and appeal to the our Savior!

Jesus, Paul, and John all sought that those under their ministry would be united as a community.  Genuine, God-glorifying, mutually beneficial community for those under their authority is the fulfillment of their joy.  That was part of Christ's prayer for the believers before he endured the cross.  So let's be united, selfless, and purposed in submission to God, each other, and prayer.  Let's be the church that Christ redeemed us to be!