The ‘why’ of living in community
Just read this at the Mustard Seed House blog - article by Christine Sine about living in community, which resonates with my thinking… seeing community as essential to mission and discipleship:
Noemie did not grow up with a Christian background, but since her time in DC where she had opportunity to speak at length on how to live out the Gospel, she has become intrigued by the linkage between community and Christian living. Her recent experiences have convinced her that the only way to live out Christian faith authentically is in community with others.
I agree with Noemie. The pressures of our individualistic, consumer driven culture make many of us who call ourselves followers of Christ, functionally live as atheists. We may pray for a few minutes before we head off to work each morning and go to church on Sunday, but our faith has little impact on how we live the rest of the time. Our daily routines are increasingly not just disconnected from God’s rhythms and purposes, but in competition with them.
For us, as for our secular neighbors, “Normal is getting dressed in clothes you buy for work, driving through traffic in a car you are still paying for, in order to get to the job that you need so you can pay for the clothes, car and the house that you leave empty all day in order to afford to live in it.”
Hmmm… I think it’s a lovely idea, and I appreciate living in this way can send out a powerful message… but I would worry about the following:
1) Could you become a bit too inward looking- if things go really well, or really badly in the community… I can imagine a lot of energy would get absorbed in community life?
2) How do you get to know other people- outside the community?
3) Could it be perceived as cliquey by others in the wider community / church family? What if someone really wants to move in but not everyone agrees?
4) How does the community grow (assuming you have one large-ish house that could soon get filled up!)
I probably should read more than just the one article first before commenting… and maybe I shouldn’t look for the difficulties and instead focus on the positives and start to dream about living communally with some lovely, likeminded folk…. I can’t help feeling that it certainly SOUNDS like a nicer and simpler option than trying to live the right way in the real world– is that a bad thing? I’m not sure!
Probably haven’t articulated that very well… I seem to have lost any ability to make a coherent point on anything these days– shame you guys aren’t nearer to met up and chat :o)
Hope you are all well, give Ayla a cuddle from me and say hi to Pol! xx