Authentic Community Part 1
May 29th, 2007 Posted in Community, CultureThe purpose of the church is to fulfill the Great Commission! Period! Read it here!
Possibly the most significant way that the Church will accomplish its purpose is through BEING an authentic COMMUNITY that TRULY and GENUINELY reflects Christ BY engaging the COMMUNITY on ITS TURF!
I love my neighborhood! It ROCKS! We have absolutely the most incredible neighbors in the world. Last night we had a great Memorial Day block party/cookout/bar-b-que. We had an incredible turnout. I have never seen so many children in my life. AND they were all playing in the street. We experienced a taste of authentic community!
I am reading The Connecting Church by Randy Frazee. It is a great book about “Authentic Community”. It is about people engaging other people in a real and genuine way. It is about being “good neighbors” and honoring Christ in doing so.
Frazee identifies the “problem of isolation” and quotes Fort Worth Star-Telegram staff writer Liz Stevens regarding the loss of “community” in the American culture:
Suburbs were created after World War II to remedy a housing shortage where the land was the cheapest. The automobile made it easy for people to commute longer distances to work. The clean, spacious suburbs, as they were, fit neatly into the concept of the American Dream. What happened is that suburban developers created a housing market aimed at newly affluent populations. That, plus deteriorating inner-city services (especially schools), racism, and other factors, catalyzed the white middle-class’s flight to the “burbs”. But these developers were not architects or urban planners, and the new suburbs did not take into account basic human needs.
I believe the basic human need the writer is referring to is the need for relationships! I saw my neighborhood take steps in authentic community last night.
Our neighborhood “community catalyst” is my friend Jimmy. He is an unbelievable “people person”. People love him and are drawn to him.Â
Bottom line, people are lonely and are craving friendship and authentic community. The church, as part of its mission and natural reflection of Christ, should be the leader in providing “authentic community” to people in its community!
Part 2 coming soon!
One Response to “Authentic Community Part 1”
By Billy on May 29, 2007
As a fellow neighbor, I would like to second that motion. Our neighborhood is incredible! I’ve never felt so at home as I do in my community and my church. Honestly, it’s like God came down from the heavens and laid its hand on Annslee Lakes. Now….if I could just get that feeling to last when I leave the neighborhood to go to work in the mornings