Building Community
Recently I came across some good advice that reminded me, by contrast, of something Bonhoeffer pointed out. If you don’t know his story Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and theologian who was persecuted, imprisoned and eventually killed by the Nazis during World War II. In his book “Life Together” he writes about Christian community. One of the most interesting things he says is that one of the greatest hindrances to true Christian Community is actually the serious Christian who has very strong ideas of what the Christian community ought to be and very little patience with the community that doesn’t live up to those ideals.
Listen carefully to some of what he says:
He who loves his dream of a community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter (the community), even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial. The man who fashions a visionary ideal of community, demands that it be realized by God, by others, and by himself, then enters the community of Christians with his demands, sets up his own law, and judges the brethren accordingly. When things do not go his way, he calls the effort a failure.
Bonhoeffer’s observation came to mind while reading a popular new book titled “Total Church”. The book includes a great chapter on community. At the end of that chapter the authors give this wise advice to the person who warms to a higher vision of Christian community:
If you warm to this vision of Christian Community, then start where you are. Sell the vision by modeling the vision. Don’t become a pain to your existing congregation telling them everything they are doing is wrong. Become a blessing by offering hospitality, showing practical care, dropping in on people. Create around you a group of Christians who will share their lives and encourage one another in the faith. You might start with your home group (what we call growth groups) Often home groups are little more than meetings. Make yours a community by acting like a community. You don’t have to mount a campaign for change – just get on with it and make community infectious. Create something that other people want to be a part of. And think about whether you could establish a context in which people in your church can hang out together and invite unbelieving friends – something like a regular café night, an open house, or sports practice. (Tim Chester and Steve Timmis, Total Church p. 50)
In other words instead of becoming a critic of the community that exists become a catalyst for change.
Larry is the senior pastor at 
