Taboo Topics: The Importance of Community

Have you guys ever noticed how quickly the LGBTQ Movement has grown?

I was reading Carl Trueman’s book called, “Strange New World” the other day, and he brought up an interesting statement on the LGBTQ movement and how it has grown to be as big as it is.

Today I want to talk about community, and you might be asking, “Why is that taboo?” And the reason I consider it taboo is because we live a culture committed to self over others and the reality is that genuine community is hard and can be seriously uncomfortable.

We Are Made For Community

The Nicene Creed says, “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in on Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God; Light of Light,very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father… I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified.”

Now the Trinity means that God Himself is community. He is one God and three persons living in perfect harmony.

Now, in Genesis 1:26 we read,

Genesis 1:26 NKJV

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

and in Genesis 2:18 we read,

Genesis 2:18 NKJV

18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

So, if we are made in the image of God to reflect Him to the world, then we are made for community.

At the heart of us all there is a desire to have people who love and understand us. People we can be ourselves around and pour our hearts out to. We all long for a sense of community no matter if we’re quiet or loud by nature. This is how God made us.

But the question I want to ask you is this, “Is this the end of the story? Can we just say, “Hey, God made us for community, it’s all easy.”

The answer to that is no. In Genesis 3:16, we see that our parents have sinned and that one of the horrible results of sin would be that community would be seriously harmed by it.

Genesis 3:16 NKJV

16 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”

But just before that judgment is made, God delivers a promise in Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3:15 NKJV

15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

See, we are not only a people made for community, but as Christians we are a people being made again for true community.

Why is it that, though movements and nations have risen and fallen, that the Church has, through horrible trials and fight only grown stronger? The reason for that is because we are a community that is built upon the unshakable foundation of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 13:34–35 NKJV

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

See in this text, Jesus isn’t just saying, “Hey, love each other!” No, instead the commandments of God are rooted in His covenant love. Jesus contextualized this reality in the meaning of His love. The Church of Jesus Christ isn’t just a group of friends who like wearing suits or singing old songs. We are a season fantasy football team that might fizzle out. No, our community is unshakable because it is built upon the love of Jesus Christ which is an unshakable love.

And now, because of Christ’s love, our community should be comprised of people who genuine love one another. But what does that look like?

Well, in the Bible there are some verses that some would call “The One-Anothers” that might give us a good picture. Romans 12:10

Romans 12:10 NKJV

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

2 Corinthians 13:11 NKJV

11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Galatians 5:13 NKJV

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Ephesians 4:32 NKJV

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

This is just a few examples of the kind of love that should be seen in the Church.

But I want to ask you a question, do you think we do that perfectly all the time? Have you always felt like your brothers and sisters in Christ treat you like that? Have you always treated others like that?

The answer to that is, “No!” and because that is true, I want you us to get that...

Community Is Messy

I am convinced that the heightened amount of people identifying as “introverted” does not have to do with social skills or preferences, but rather their discomfort with the way in which community glaringly reveals our flaws. To clarify, I am not negating that as people we do not have social preferences and differences, but what I am referring to is in regard to utilizing a term that would definition-ally refer to a social disposition as a cover for the sinful ideology of individualism. Society is now shaped around the internet which allows people to immerse themselves in communities absolutely identical to their preferences and if we don’t like others, then we simply block them. But authentic community isn’t like that. It’s raw and presents a spotlight to the reality of the divisiveness of sin, becoming a means of sanctification for the Christian.

What do you guys think are some problems or excuses we come up with that prevent us from engaging in real community?

Maybe self-reliance could be one. Some people feel like they can do “lone-wolf” Christianity and they pride themselves in being able to handle things alone.

Or self-protection… I’ve heard countless people say that they were hurt in Church before so they’ll never do that again because they don’t want to be hurt.

Or maybe even self- centeredness… we live in a very selfish world today and a lot of people all view relationships through the mindset of “What can they do for me?” and instead of focusing on investing in one another, they don’t have time for community because they think the community has anything to offer them.

See, Genuine community is difficult because it makes us feel vulnerable and it exposes the sin in our lives. Galatians 6:1-3

Galatians 6:1–3 NKJV

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

It is also hard because we often come as consumers rather than contributors. Guys, I want us to clearly understand that if we’re ever going to experience community the way God meant for us to, we have to come to terms with the fact that there are going to be times of discomfort. There will be hard conversations where you’ll have to confront sin in your friends life and there will be hard pills to swallow when your friend lovingly shows you the sin in yours. There will be times where you will need to man, or woman, up and confess your faults one to another. And that is really the beauty in the mess of community.

In this kind of community, God graciously exposes our sin and invites us to believe the Gospel. The gospel is good news for all the bumps and bruises of life, even the hidden ones that come out through your Christian relationships.

Yes, you may realize that sometimes you’re too quick-tempered and you blow up at your friends and family and your heart is so broken that you think to yourself, “How could I even call myself a real Christian.” But what you need to know is that the gospel is for that struggle too. And what we must do is repent of that sin, rejoice that our righteousness is in Christ alone and go forward resting and striving in the power of the Spirit.

Community is Meaningful

In the book, “The Gospel-Centered Community.” The author writes, “The agent of sanctification (or Christian growth) is the Holy Spirit. The tool of sanctification is the gospel. And the context of sanctification is the community.”

A lot of people view community as functional rather than formative. What I mean by that is that we sometimes put ourselves at the center and make the whole Church about us. Instead we should understand that Christian community is formative which means that God is at the center of it all and as He draws us to Him, He draws us closer together as a community.

There is not one person who has ever entered our lives by accident.

How many of you could say that you have friends that mean the world to you that you didn’t even really know a few years ago, yet you couldn’t imagine not having them around now? And as you look back over your friendships, you can see how they’ve been used to shape you as you guys grow closer together.

Now, let me add this statement that a friend of mine says a lot to his youth group and that statement is, “Show me who your friends are now and I’ll show you where you’ll be in a few years.”

Guys, the community that we involve ourselves with matters, and the community I’m calling you to is the Church that is built upon the love of her Lord Jesus Christ. And this is a meaningful community. Let me give you three quick things about it, First, authentic Christian community is for our:

Cultivation

God uses community to expose our sins and then calls us to hold on to the hope of the gospel.

Galatians 6:1–3 NKJV

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Contribution

Heidelberg Catechism Q55: “What do you understand by the “communion of saints”?

First, that believers, one and all, as members of the Lord Jesus Christ, are partakers with Him in all His treasures and gifts; secondly, that each one must feel himself bound to use his gifts readily and cheerfully for the advantage and welfare of other members.”

The Church is a place where our gifts and talents are to be identified, cultivated and used for the good of others to the glory of God.

Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 12:1-26

Demonstration

What Jesus says in John 13:35 is that the world would know that we are Christ’s through the love we have for each other.

John 13:35 NKJV

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

We should have relationships that are so authentic and full of restoration and kind correction that the world can’t help but to notice how different we are from the rest of the relationships they have.

Conclusion

Wrap it up.