A Caring Community

Lately at Connections we've been talking about "The Church". For me, it's been fascinating. We spent about 11 weeks on the Glory of God earlier this year, and now we've looked at "The Church" for about 6 weeks. These are two things that go hand in hand, and they have truly caught my attention!

This last week, we looked at how the early Church really cared about each other. It was so much more than just a place where people gathered to sing some songs together, it was a group of people who invested time and other resources into each other's lives. That's so key, and it is often missing in the Church today. Do we care enough to invest in others? Are we willing to invest the limited time we have? Do we even know who these people are?

As we talked about, much of the care was directed at other members of the Church (aka, the Body of Christ). Yes, they went out and reached the world, but a great deal of the care happened internally. It was this internal love and care that ultimately impacted non-believers. And that makes sense to me. Why would anyone want to be a part of a community that doesn't even care about each other?

So - where does that leave us today? I'd love to hear your thoughts about this. I'd especially love to hear your ideas on how to foster a community that cares about each other.

Here are some questions to ponder:
    If another follower of Christ (that was part of the same worshipping community) didn't show up for worship for a month, would anyone call to check in on them?
    If another follower of Christ (that was part of the same worshipping community) was hospitalized, or suffering from depression or experiencing a real financial need, would the Body of Christ respond?
    If a baby was about to be born, and no one officially organized meals, would the Body of Christ naturally bless the family with meals?
    And finally - Do you think anyone would want to be a part of a community that doesn't know or care about each other?

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts - and to having some discussion.

Posted on Thu, December 13, 2007 by Jonathan Goeke

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9 comments (Add your own)

1. Michael L wrote:: "If another follower of Christ (that was part of the same worshipping community) didn't show up for worship for a month, would anyone call to check in on them?"

I thought about this yesterday. There is a family I haven't seen in awhile. I wondered how they were doing. My next thought...? "I wonder if PJ has contacted them." Since it is, of course, his job.

How ridiculous this is. It is all of our "jobs" as followers of Christ. But I am guilty of assuming someone else should do it, or someone else will do it.

So how do we develop that kind of community? It can't happen in the church building. It has to happen in homes and in hospital rooms. But do I REALLY want to spend that much time with all these church people? I mean, I already go to church 3-4 times a month! What am I becoming, some kind of Jesus Freak?!!

When I can answer that last question affirmatively, with pride and confidence, in front of every audience, then I am ready to build community, the kind of community I believe PJ describes in his post. My 2 cents.
Thu, December 13, 2007 @ 1:01 PM
2. wrote:: yes, yes, yes, and finally a big no!
Fri, December 14, 2007 @ 2:38 PM
3. wrote:: NO!

NO!

NO!

NO!
Mon, December 17, 2007 @ 2:21 PM
4. PJ wrote:: Interesting. The last two posts look at things quite differently. I am not sure how I would answer. I would want to answer the first three questions with "yes", but all too often that isn't the case. However, I have seen the Body of Christ step up to the plate and respond!

For those two posts, I'd love to hear more. It would be great to hear about your personal experiences.

My prayer is that we will be a community that does each of those things - naturally! I pray for that daily! I try to live that way, and I hope you will, too. The more individuals we have that take matters into their own hands, the quicker this type of community will form. It's the only way I know that it can happen.

I'm just thankful that God took the initiative with us and made it happen.
Mon, December 17, 2007 @ 2:36 PM
5. PJ wrote:: Michael L - thanks for your comment, too. I agree, that is a challenging question to wrestle with! Ouch.

For me personally, it is selfishness that gets in the way. I'm busy, busy, busy. I'm running all over the place. And then I finally have some spare moments. I've struggled with this thought, "The last thing I want to do is spend time with people. I just want to hang out with my family." Yes, that is important, too. But it's not a great way to build community.

I really do want to build community - well, mostly I do.

Thanks for the honesty.

I am interested in knowing who you thought of. And I do hope you've already called them!
Mon, December 17, 2007 @ 2:54 PM
6. Response #2 wrote:: 1. I have personnal experience with this. I missed over 8 Sundays last year and I did not get even 1 phone call. I got no calls from the pastors. I got no calls from any elder. I got no calls from my Life Group. What am I supposed to think? Why do we even bother with those attendance cards or the Church Windows software that the Church uses to track attendance.

2. I also have presonnal experience with this one, too. I have mentioned my depression to several members of the staff; pastors and others. Every once in a while someone will ask but if I miss several Sundays no one calls to see if I am suffering. At times I was close to ending it all!

4. Have you gone out an introduced yourself to any of our members who are shut-ins or living in assisted living/nursing homes? The other members of the church to get the info about what is going on at the Church and they are wondering about you. Yes, you are not the Visitation Minister but you are the new pastor. They should get to meet you just in case they need someone and you are the only one available. They would sure feel more comfortable with someone they at least met instead of some strange person showing up.
Thu, January 3, 2008 @ 2:10 PM
7. PJ wrote:: Though your comment hits a bit too close to home (personally), I thank you for your comment. Your comment just shows how much of a problem this is - even here at St. Timothy or with Connections. I just hope I can one day find out who I'm addressing here!

Sometime back a bad pattern was established. I don't know where or when it started, but it has deep roots. The problem was that the body of Christ (the church) quit taking responsibility for meeting the needs of the rest of the body. Somehow, this got passed on to the Pastor. It was the Pastor's job/responsibility to care for the people. It was the Pastor's job to visit the sick or hospitalized. From what I see biblically, it is the church's job. Jesus taught it in Matthew 25:31ff. The early church modeled it in Acts 2, 4 and 5. The body of Christ knew that it was their responsibility to look after and care for the needs of the people!

With that in mind, I'm most bothered by the fact that your Life Group never called to check in on you. That's what a Life Group is designed to be - a small community where we know each other, grow closer to Christ together, love each other and look after each other! That's what we want to build within Connections. I would love to see us become a community where needs are known, and needs are met. We are still human, and people can still fall through the cracks - but hopefully it will happen less and less.

As for #4. It's my job to try to prepare God's people for works of service - so the body of Christ will be built up! I pray that I can do that more effectively!
Thu, January 3, 2008 @ 3:06 PM
8. The K. wrote:: It is not just PJ's or Pastor Steve's job. It is A responsibility and command from our Lord and Savior Jesus that it is the members job as well. Perhaps, Perhaps even more our JOB!!!
Fri, January 4, 2008 @ 6:33 PM
9. Rob Ellington wrote:: St Timothy is not the first or only church in which a seemingly handful of people give all they can to accomidate the needs of all the rest who do minimal to nothing at all. Ironically, another group of people seem to do alot of whining, complaining, and pointing fingers at the very people who care the most. These happen to be the same people who are already doing the best they can. I for one am willing to learn from them, join them, and help them despite the pre-existing negativity and compacency that I myself have been guilty of for too long. One who has been forgiven much, loves much, and I have been forgiven much. I now hope to be part of the solution and not the problem. I pray and wait for those who have not yet experienced this grace. I hope you will join us soon.
Wed, January 9, 2008 @ 9:51 PM

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