recommunity
(For a detailed explanation of our plans for Sun night worship at ATCC, please scroll to the eighth paragraph)
I like thinking that I can just make up new words, and that they’ll make sense to everyone else. Albeit this is an unrealistic expectation, I long for these new words to crop up in everyday conversation, someday making it into the official ranks of the dictionary.
My latest word is ‘recommunity’. Let the reader beware- I have chosen to genetically splice three words together to create my Franken-word; Recovered Common Unity. Early in the first century when Jesus and his first followers began worshiping Him, a unique kind of community was evolving from Jewish-Roman-Greek culture. People regardless of wealth or family status were laying aside their differences and choosing to identify as a group of Jesus-followers. Their strongest friendships were centered around Jesus’ teaching and way of life. Their personal goals were subjected to the needs of their friends, and the mission of Jesus in their communities.
Bottom line- this kind of unity around Jesus, and around the mission of Jesus, defined every aspect of their lives. Onlookers described them as ‘foolish’ and ‘strange’, not being able to understand why they would dedicate themselves to ’loving unlovable people’ and sharing the ministry that Jesus left behind. With boldness and compassion, they shared the simple truths of the gospel in the middle of their everyday relationships. Not only in the New Testament, but also in other historical documents, we can easily see why the political leaders of the 1st century were a bit taken back when these Jesus-followers were so uniquely different, yet winning the hearts of many that wanted a different way of life.
In our modern world, much is said about ‘unity’, ‘community’, and the ways to acheive it. Little is said about what disunifies the human race and what kinds of things destroy community. If we are completely honest, all of us have been born with a ingrained sense to ‘get what you want, and when you want it’. We are driven to be successful, more wealthy, well-liked by all, respectable citizens. We want our names on the donation plaque, honor role, and the ’10 best’ lists. In doing so, we enjoy separating ourselves from the names that arent respectable, less successful or wealthy, or that don’t really benefit us in the long run. Truly, we’re born into sin and continue to choose it.
Our only hope is ‘recommunity’. At the core of Jesus and His teachings, is an offer to change from the self-focused world we live in. Being honest about our own sinful condition, Jesus offers us a chance to ‘repent and believe, for the Kingdom is at hand.’ Mark 1:15. For Jesus, believing in the message is just the beginning- a daily awareness of His Kingdom and trust in our King, is our only hope to ‘recover common unity’. Instead of daily fear, depression, and broken relationships, in the gospel message we are offered mercy, forgiveness, true joy that goes beyond any of life’s situations, and relationships that are defined by the greater purposes of God through His Son Jesus.
This is what the church was and is designed to be. A community of Jesus-followers who are passionately committed to Jesus, one another, and the community in which they carry out His mission. Is it possible to ‘recover’ this ‘common-unity’? Can the modern church, especially in America, recover their true beauty and realize their cherished place as the apple of God’s eye? When the New Testament speaks of the local church as the ‘bride’ of Jesus, what image comes to your mind? Just as my love for my wife Anna is renewed and restored every day, could we look on the church as a beautiful, extremely gifted, and full of power and potential?
It is way past due. Today, I am making it my commitment to recover common unity around the Word of God, and the God-Man Jesus Christ. He is our only hope to rescue the mission of the church, as we come to His Word for direction and rely on His Holy Spirit for guidance. Each of us must take a serious look at the things in our schedules, and honestly assess whether or not we truly have this kind of community around the mission of Jesus. Do my best friends ever talk about Jesus or His mission? Do my closest peers share with me the goal of being more like Jesus and sharing His message with others? How can I find a true community of believing friends in my town?
Sunday nights 6:30-7:30pm, at Alexandria Technical Community College, we will be inviting friends to consider this ‘recommunity’. Most young people and younger families that have never experienced these kinds of real relationships, will gather in an informal and friendly environment to hear the Word of God and meaningfully connect with each other. Sitting at tables, sharing coffee and snacks, discussing Jesus and His teaching, people will be both loved and challenged to follow Jesus with the same passion of the early church.
Before we speak too highly of the church, let us be clear. Even the first century followers of Jesus had their issues. Conflicts were common and feelings were hurt. People have always been the same. However, when these conflicts were addressed by loving and truthful leaders in the church, the lies of the enemy were exposed and people were given the opportunity to reconcile. Whatever problems or difficulties arise, from within the church or outside it, followers of Jesus are committed to responding to His truth and grace in relationships- not abandoning people as soon as times get tough.
Authentic ‘recommunity’ can never be accomplished simply by getting people into a room together. We will be together on Sunday nights primarily to respond to God and His Word, and secondarily to reflect His character to one another in relationships. We are praying that the Gospel, and the Word of God, would change our hearts to be more like Jesus. When this happens in a setting of God-centered worship, we are able to reflect Jesus to the friends around us and experience relationships that our authentically encouraging. What does ‘recommuity’ look like on a typical Sunday night? As things are always flexible, more or less we will…
6:30pm- Gather over drinks and snacks around cafe tables
6:40pm- Offer people the freedom to come before God in worship
6:50pm- Teach people a timeless and practical truth of God’s Word, through the Gospel message.
7:00pm- Talk and share over small tables about a meaningul question, applicable to the message.
7:10pm- Present a biblical and clear ‘way of life’ for all of us to strive for, stemming from the message.
7:20pm- Discuss key action steps that any person could take to follow Jesus, based on the message.
7:25pm- Responding to God as a community of believers, through worship, prayer, or thanksgiving.
7:30pm- Encouraging people to ‘go and make disciples’ in their everyday lives, learning and growing together.
Our hope is to ‘recover’ the relational and disciple-making core function of the local church, especially focusing on the 16-35 age demographic that has largely ‘checked out of church’. Could it be that the world has just been waiting for a new word to describe how they really feel? Could it be that ‘recommunity’ would be a word that flies from the lips of new and old followers of Jesus? Could it be one day we see recommunity be listed between recollection and reconnaissance?
As you can tell, Im not really that passionate about those kinds of things? What would thrill my heart would be to see every follower of Jesus recover their personal privilege of bringing Jesus into their every day relationships, and inviting those friends into the every day community of the church that Jesus longs to use for His glory. Let’s turn from our selfish versions of ‘church’ and ‘Christianity’, and recover why Jesus is so passionate about His bride, the church, and His unique mission for her on planet earth. Let’s commit to ‘recommunity’.