Why is community so important?
I've been thinking a lot about community lately. It's not just the conceptual idea of it, but also the reality of the community that I live in. I live life connected to many different forms of community. The word itself is used in a variety of ways. The dictionary defines the word as such:
- a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.
- a locality inhabited by such a group.
- a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists (usually prec. by the): the business community; the community of scholars.
- a group of associated nations sharing common interests or a common heritage: the community of Western Europe.
- a group of men or women leading a common life according to a rule.
- an assemblage of interacting populations occupying a given area.
- joint possession, enjoyment, liability, etc.: community of property.
- similar character; agreement; identity: community of interests.
Given the fact that the English word 'community' has such a broad definition, I should clarify that the specific community I'm speaking of is my 'church community'. One of the reasons Janna and I have come to the Island is to share life with friends here, and to continue learning what it looks like to 'be the church'. I know that church is not an institution or a building… it is a community of people. People with shared values and goals. People who are connected to a shared truth, and in turn to a common journey through life. I love it, and I more importantly I need it. God has so clearly shown me that we are all created with a deep need for relationship, and that life, dreams, passion, purpose… all find inside of community.
All that said, I wanted to throw out some of the questions that I'm wrestling with right now. It would be amazing to have your thoughts, insights, questions, and life experiences thrown into the mix. To do that just comment here (just scroll down to the bottom of the post, and submit your comment there.)
- Why is community so important?
- What are the key values that God is calling use as a community to share?
- Why am I so important to community?
- How does/should a church community connect with other church communities, both locally and around the world?
- What does community need to look like from day to day? How do we best live it out?
- How do we create a hospitable community? (an inclusive community, where others can easily enter.)
- How does my 'church community' best relate to my other communities (i.e. Family, Neighbours/City, Work, etc.)?