The Importance of Community:

For my Bible Study, I have been reading a book about community.  This book is called, “Find your People,” by Jennie Allen.  She introduces the importance of community by introducing the research statistics of community and friendships as fundamental for health.  There has been a lot of research related to this topic.  Even though the United States, for example, has access to a wide array of resources and medical professionals, our health, both our mental and physical, is becoming worse as people are becoming lonelier and lonelier.   

“Research says that more than three in five Americans report being chronically lonely, and that number is ‘on the rise.’  These stats are indicators of a grave and costly crisis.  Anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts are all on the rise.  Scientists now warn that loneliness is worse for our health than obesity, smoking, lack of access to health care, and physical inactivity.” (Jennie Allen-Find Your People.)

This was a fact I found hard to believe.  Living in America, the idea that being alone on a regular basis is unhealthy is the opposite of what has been instilled in me, starting at a young age. America has adapted to a very individualized approach to life.  We love to live on our own, work on our own, and do our errands alone.  Then after we have had our full day of working, exercising, running errands, and other various tasks, we will make time for some casual friendships and relationships.  This statistic and therefore, most of Jennie’s book is looking at doing the complete opposite of that.  This book is challenging us to look for relationships being a main foundational piece of our life.  

Community is highly important when it comes to our physical health as well as our religious and spiritual health.  The Lord talks so much about community.  He also shows this.  There are not many stories about Jesus when he is preaching and when he is performing miracles where is not surrounded by individuals. He is constantly surrounded by his disciples.  He is with his really good friends.  Jesus was also a part of a community even before he came down to earth.  Jennie through this book helps me realize that God was a part of the community with the Trinity.  It is Three in One, which is three separate entities together forever.  (I’ll be completely transparent here that trying to describe the Trinity accurately is not my specialty.  I am not a Theologian.  But the point being here was that the commitment to community was so strong that they symbolize community.  So close that they are bound together.)

The important thing about community in our religious and spiritual settings is that we need to make it about growth and finding our overall joy in Jesus.   A verse I really want to highlight is Matthew 18:20 which says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.”  This is a great thing to realize that God will meet us where we are. The Lord wants a part of our relationships because he really cares about them and loves them.  It is important that we use our community to sharpen us as iron sharpens iron.  We can tell our community our struggles and ask for prayers, so we can grow to be better representations of the church and, therefore, Christ himself. 

This year has been a very hard year when it comes to teaching and the stress that has been involved in it.  I have felt very discouraged by many different moments in life.  I have also made some mistakes and struggled with stress, anxiety, and even, sometimes, anger.  I had to spend that time being incredibly honest with my small Bible Study group about this.  I was asking for deep prayers because I know that I need to grow to be better.  Telling them my truth and the items I was struggling with was freeing.   I knew I needed to let go of guilt and shame.  I knew that I wasn’t trying to put up a front that I was really strong and was doing everything perfectly.  I could be authentic, and I said what I was really feeling.  It was important that I had this community around me.   

Remember that God cares a lot about growing the church.  This does not just mean the physical location and place of the church, but rather anywhere a body of believers is meeting in order to grow in God’s love and help others do the same.  My challenge for you this week then is to think about who your community is.  This may not necessarily be the people who are already friends or already in your circle, but who have the potential to be.  Who are maybe the co-workers you seem to enjoy, but you have not yet gotten to know very well.  Sometimes we just really have to put ourselves out there to build the community that we want to have around us.  I pray you will find your community.  I pray this will help you continuously grow closer to God.