In honor of Ringo Starr turning 70 this week, I thought I would begin with a song. But really, yesterday a friend and I were listening to an Executive Pastor of a church in our region.
He has just written a new book and in his interview he talked about how his church leverages the social networking sites to build community among their attendees. He told a story of a need posted on a site for a computer for a women’s shelter, another individual posted they had a computer but needed to get some data from it and remove personal information, a third post came saying they were a computer undergrad and would be happy to retrieve the data and clean the computer to go to the women’s shelter, a fourth post came saying they had a printer they were not using and would donate to the women’s shelter Geoff (something-or-other) then spoke of the community that had been created. I see that. Folks who did not previously know one another worked together to solve a need, cool. But community, when we think of community is that the kind we want and really need? Consider this example; my wife is in the van on HWY 21 when the left rear tire blows out. She is able to get it to the shoulder safely and well off of the road. Two drivers stop to help. One jacks the car up and the other removes the wheel a third stops and offers additional assistance. The spare tire is on the ground and my wife is able to get home for me to fix the blown out tire. Was that community? Yes they worked together to meet a need. That is amazing, but is that community?
Recently in my Life Group one shared of intense personal struggles with several relationships. They were intensely distraught and overwhelmed with the weight of the despair and pain and the prospects of disaster in these relationships. The group listened, comforted, sympathized and prayed for this one listening for God’s voice and direction. He spoke and met their need at that moment and we hurt with them. Is that community?
I say yes!
I wondered if that same outpouring would happen on a social networking site? Would your bare your heart on Face book? I say all of this to comment on how loosely we define so many terms, community in this case, salvation in others. I recently heard someone speak like God would save anyone if they just something. I honestly sounded like they did not have to do anything and God would save them. Jesus always said follow me. That sounds like something. I have heard I believe in God so I’m alright. The evil one believes in God but he’s not alright. In this example community is caring, compassion and personal touch, people who love us and know us and care for us. That is a community that holds us accountable, pulls us up and kicks us in the pants when we need it.
That’s the community I need.
That’s the community I count on.
Where is yours?
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