Living in the Culture

Theologian Paul Tillich said, We have considered the depth of the world and the depth of our souls. But we are only in a world through a community of men. And we can discover our souls only through the mirror of those who look at us. There is no depth of life without the depth of the common life. 


Before Tillich wrote those words a young, Dutch theologian, Dietrich Bonheoffer called the church the physical manifestation of Christ on earth.  It became known as the communion of the saints.

The essence of the Early Church and the New Testament is community.  Community is the genesis of God.  It began with Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.  Before humanity graced the universe by God’s grace, God was already in community.  His Son, came to insure community.  His life, ministry, suffering, crucifixion and resurrection triumphed over humanities attempts to prevent community through the depravity of humankind, sin.  Yes, we enjoy salvation through Him, but our salvation was never meant to be lived in isolation.  It was meant to be shared.  As Paul said we, “are the bride of Christ.”  And Jesus said in John 13:34-35 that our mutual love would be the mark of true community: 

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  

So how are we doing in this area of community?  Are we really marked by love?  Does the world look at us and see love?  Or do they look at us and see judgment, condemnation and isolation?  Do they see petty bickering over honest differences that really have nothing to do with faith in Christ.  Love requires far more than intellectual and theological agreement.  In fact, it could be argued that unanimity is not as much the mark of love as it is doctrinal compliance and legalism.  Keep in mind that Jesus stood in opposition to the legalist of His days with skin on.  

Doing authentic biblical community is not easy.  It’s tough.  It exposes mere church membership or attendance at weekly worship for what it is, obligatory duty.  Authentic community means we place ourselves in places of vulnerability.  We have conversations beyond the score of the weekend game, or the weather.  We open the windows to our souls and we risk being known by people who love us without conditions.  We empathize with fellow strugglers and we bind together with cords of love that cannot be broken.  We mourn with those who mourn and we rejoice with those who rejoice.  Like marriage, we are committed to each other for good, or for worse, in sickness and in health.  

Authentic community requires humility.  Prideful people and the self-consumed don’t do community for risk of being exposed.  We simply have to be real.  Being real makes a lot of people nervous, but Jesus has called us to be real, genuine and authentic, warts and all.  I don’t know about you, but this broken, imperfect, flawed ragamuffin needs and craves community.  Mutual submission and unconditional love cannot exist until we are really serious about seeking it.  Then and only then will the world know us by our love.