The Possibility of Community

 

I want our Loft Core Group to think a few minutes about the possibility of being in authentic community. We’ll take a close look at Acts 2:41-27 and what it means to “be” in authentic community the next couple of times we get together.

It’s a possibility for us; there are no guarantees that we will all reach it together. We must become so committed to one another that we will “willingly” enter into and pass through what Dr. Scott Peck calls “the tunnel of chaos.” Sounds daunting and a little mystical, doesn’t it; believe me it is and more. Want to get a taste? Read thoughfully the first few chapters of the Book of Acts. Think these early believers had an easy transition to connectiveness or “life in community”….meditate on the passages some more.

Yes, we have a possible of authentic community together----it’s mystical and communal; it’s Holy Spirit driven and an invitation to an Interdependent life. And we are just beginning…..

To start getting ready for the journey, I’d suggest reading and “musing over” Blue Like Jazz---particularly Chapter 15. My prayer is that we will begin this journey together learning from Miller’s spiritual walk (albeit complete with bumpy county roads, sinkholes and detours) to learn that life really isn’t about self; begin to shed the thought that it’s OK to be addicted to self; and that there was more than one radio station to be turned into my mind (see p. 181).

Some of us might think I’m already past all of this; I ask you---dig deeper; read Acts again and see the heart of God’s people in connection. What do you see? What do you want? What is possible together?

Life Without Community

Life without community isn’t a pretty sight. Here’s how Gregg Levoy describes it:

Common Cold of the Soul

“To sinful patterns of patterns of behavior that never get confronted and changed,

Abilities and gifts that never get cultivated and deployed—until weeks become months…and months turn into years,

And one day you’re looking back on a life of deep intimate, gut-wrenchingly honest conversations you never had; great bold prayers you never prayed; exhilarating risks you never took; sacrificial gifts you never offered, lives you never touched.

And you’re sitting in a recliner with a shriveled soul, and forgotten dreams and you realize there was a world of desperate need; and a great God calling you to become a part of something bigger than yourself, you see the person you could have become but did not…” (adapted)

Good News

But, dear Friends and fellow Lofters, we do have the great God calling as He did in the Book of Acts at Pentecost. We have the Possibility of becoming part of something bigger than ourselves and the Hope of seeing the person God created us to be in authentic community. Do you see it? Can you feel it? Do you really want it?

Next Step

Take a few minutes and reflect on Lavoy’s thoughts and the biblical adventure of the Christ-followers pursuing God purpose for their lives found in the Book of Acts. Write down your thoughts about the possibility of and need for living a life of becoming connected and a prayer of hope for our group.

I pray it will be a powerful experience for you and a giant step down the path in our journey together. Each of us individually may be at different stages in our spiritual journey but we are all at the beginning point of becoming connected together and this is a possibility and our HOPE.  Selah

Grace,

Bob