The Importance Of Christian Community

The Importance of Christian Community

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25

William Rehnquist, the late chief justice of the United States, was so often alone in his opinions that his law clerks presented him with a Lone Ranger action figure. Similarly, William O. Douglas, an associate justice on the Supreme Court, authored more dissents than any other justice in the Supreme Court’s history. Although they engaged and collaborated with their fellow justices, these men often rendered their own, differing opinions in the end.

We’re really not that different in our relationship with each other as believers and followers of Jesus Christ.

As Christians, it’s easy to fall into patterns where we aren’t in regular fellowship with others. We go it alone a great deal of the time. Even when we’re members who regularly attend church with a local body of believers, we still do little in the way of engaging others and growing together in our faith. God, however, knows that we need community, and we need to realize it as well.

Jesus surrounded Himself with a close band of believers and spent time with them—teaching, equipping, sharing with, and engaging them in the culture of the day. In the days soon after Christ ascended into heaven, people were repenting and being baptized and being added by the thousands to the number of those who were followers of Christ. The author of Hebrews urged the early church to “not neglect . . . meeting together” (Hebrews 10:25).

In Acts we read, “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). They were empowered in their communion with each other and grew exponentially, building into each other’s lives and strengthening each other, all in preparation for spreading the message of Good News and helping the poor, the widows, the sick, and those in need.

If your fellowship with other Christians has been lax lately because you don’t think you need them or they need you, think again. Jesus wasn’t a lone ranger in His ministry; His followers thrive the most in community.

Uncommon Key > God calls believers to be together as they journey in their relationship with Him. Don’t become a lone ranger in your walk with Him.