Yesterday, after a two week hiatus for my wedding and honeymoon, I finally made it back to church. And I loved it. Walking through the doors, my new wife next to me, my ears resounded with the sound of my good friend welcoming both Clare and I back from our vacation, by using the microphone and the other 100 people around him, all clapping and shouting. It shocked me for a second, the sudden recognition from the man in the spotlight, but then felt good. This was Life Church after all; stuff like this just happens, and it makes for a fun Sunday. Clare and I, after hugging what seemed like three dozen people (it was probably 6) took our seats next to another couple we both deeply love and admire. We chatted for a couple minutes only to find ourselves back out of our chairs as the music began and did not let up for a whole half hour. It was awesome! I was reminded of why I love this church so much. Looking around me, my eyes saw members of the body of Christ dancing, holding their hands up to their Creator, and singing their hearts out as we worshipped collectively. The unpolished and raw nature of the band establishes a sweet environment for authentic worship, hearts presented to God in a real way. The body of Christ, loving Christ together.
When our pastor Mark finally got up to give his message, I was pretty pumped up. Then I got even more pumped when I realized his sermon, and all sermons for the next five weeks, were about community. Community is a developing passion of mine, continually deepening and growing the more I am immersed in it. The topic yesterday was "why we need each other," which seems a little elementary, but looking at our culture today it's pretty evident this topic is grossly overlooked. So I want, with a little stolen from Mark Miller, to revisit this topic here.
The United States of America's population is 307 million people. Facebook, the world's largest social networking site, just reached 300 million people. Just two months ago, the population was 250 million, which puts growth at more than 800,000 new members everyday. Their population stretches across all continents (with one exception; sorry big ice sheet in the south), with about 70% of members being from outside the U.S. While it is much easier to join the nation of Facebook than any other nation on this planet, this kind of statistical growth anywhere is unheard of, dare I say impossible. To what do we owe this outstretching of our connectedness? The answer is simple: loneliness. We as a people, especially Americans, are the loneliest people who have ever walked the face of this planet, collectively that is. According to a recent study, 25% of Americans say they have no one in their life with whom they can discuss matters of personal importance. We are so disconnected from others in real life, so disjointed from other humans in the flesh that we feel the need to live vicariously through our online selfs. Facebook is great; I'm on it everyday. It keeps me updated on what is going on in the lives of others I do not see everyday, but to use it as a substitute for friendship is disturbing. Especially when seen through the eyes of Christianity.
The church is a community. It is built on Christ, made up of Christians, all living life together. Celebrating, grieving, loving, forgiving. Serving, creating, praising, rejoicing. Life together. All parts of it, all out in the open. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, reminded us of this when he said that "Since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others." We are all one. We are all common and we are all in unity. Common unity. Community. And we all belong to each other, which means we share ownership of each others' lives. We all have a stake in our lives and the life of the church. We all share in the celebration and the grief of the family. We all share in the service and forgiveness of the family. God created us to live with each other, not in isolation. No man is an island. We're all a part of this community and we all need it, lest the church becomes just another Facebook nation, another online culture lacking any semblance of deep and genuine connectedness.
Having just gotten married, I now am starting to see more and more the importance of community life. My wife sees me all the time; when I'm at my worst and when I'm at my shining best. It kind of freaks me out every once and a while. I know that will only continue. And we'll struggle and fight and makeup and love each other. But my hope is that I surround myself with other men and women, confidants who I can trust, that will challenge me to love my wife more each day, to serve her and give myself up for her. Christianity takes community. And I am glad. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in Life Together, "Christian brotherhood is not an ideal which we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate." What a joy community is and can be when we consider who created it and the purpose behind it. Thank you God.
