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Where has it gone?

When I was much younger there seemed to exist a much larger sense of belonging, of community. Neighbors knew each other's names and everybody seemed to have a sense of connectedness. In American culture, for the most part this sense of belonging seems to be a thing of the past. We've all but forgotten what it was like to belong to each other, let alone what it was to have a common vision and goal. We have gone from being connected to disconnected, from joined to a sense of separation that sometimes seems overwhelming.

I hear ya knocking but ya can't come in

Yet in the middle of this move toward disconnectedness we hear phrases such as "it's a small world", or the "international community", or "it takes a whole (global) village to raise a child". Why, if communications are growing on an international level through media, do we feel less connected than ever before. We have sustained broken families and broken lives. We live in a world where some find connectedness now in the hurts or wounds that they have in common with and individuals or group of individuals. This is simply the only way for many that they are connected because many of us feel less than whole. This leads me to believe that the world, pertaining to communication may be much smaller than perceived in the past, and yet we feel less a part on the larger scale than we ever have.

What did God have in Mind?

However this can't be what God had in mind. Community is found in our relationship to one another for the benefit of all, and He has so designed to body of Christ that we are incomplete without that which each has to contribute. Community is found in the sharing, laughing, caring, crying, and living with one another. Community is found in common goals and common vision. This is the longing of God for His people. You could hear it in the words of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church.

1 Co 1:10-13
10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 11 For some members of Chloe's household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. 12 Some of you are saying, "I am a follower of Paul." Others are saying, "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Peter," or "I follow only Christ." 13 Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!
NLT

You can see from above that the problem is nothing new. As a matter of fact it started in the garden of Eden directly after the fall. Communication was broken between God's human creatures and is only in the process of restoration among those that claim the name of Christ, and they themselves have a long way to go.

Let's start Communicating

The Church above all should be an example of community. Since the basis of community is relationship, and we have been united with not only Christ but with each other as well, we have within ourselves all that is necessary. This is simply because we our indwelt with the Living God. Therefore community should come {super} natural to us.

Bishop G

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