What makes a true community?
People use the word community to describe all sorts of social groups. But what constitutes a "true" (real, authentic, fully realized) community? If we are born into the same race or family, does our membership in the same tribe equal true community? What if we wear the same colors, tattoo our bodies, endure the same initiation, does our gang become a true community? What makes a true community?
Psychologist and author, Scott Peck, says that most people have only experienced true community in accidental ways and that, usually during crisis. He says that most groups that people think of as communities are really just "pseudo-communities." He believes that true community requires going through a four stage process of deepening relationships and connection.
Pseudo-community: Where participants are "nice with each other", playing-safe, and presenting what they feel is the most favourable sides of their personalities.
Chaos: When people move beyond the inauthenticity of pseudo-community and feel safe enough to present their "shadow" selves.
Emptiness: This stage moves beyond attempts to fix, heal and convert found in the chaos stage. Here, people become capable of acknowledging their own woundedness and brokenness, common to all human beings. Out of this emptiness comes the possibility for true community.
True community: At this stage the process of deep respect for others and true listening to the stories of others takes place. Peck describes this true community as "glory." He believes that it reflects a deep yearning in every human soul for compassionate understanding from one's fellows.
Peck's description of true community as the "deep yearning in every human soul" is what drives us to tattoo ourselves and identify with tribes. We all have a deep desire for true community.
The Bible teaches us that God made us with this "deep yearning." He made us relational. He made us to be in relationship with Him and with others. That's why Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God and to love others as ourselves. In other words, God designed us to be in true community with Him and with HIs people.
As I look at any community that approaches the level of being "true," they always have a certain "DNA" in common. The first century church described in the book of Acts certainly had this DNA. They had four traits in common. These four traits were a devotion to the apostle's teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread and to prayer. Restated, they might be 1) a common belief, 2) a common identity, 3) a common practice, and 4) a common dependence.
... we hope you find the true community that is found in Christ alone.
Thanks Gary. Many of us will not risk stepping out of pseudo-community because we're afraid of being rejected or marginalized by the guardians of our respective communities. We prefer pseudo-community to isolation. As a church leader, I have at times contributed to others' fears because of my own fear of chaos. I've let my "problem children" walk away and quietly breathed sighs of relief when I should have been going after them like Jesus pursued the one lost sheep out of a hundred. Authentic community requires hard!, hard!, hard! work and the path there is not efficient. May God bless your new series!
I'm Truly embracing your way of teaching the Gospel and feel that even with my faults, I'm welcome @WCC ..Thank you and I'm looking forward to this new series of sermons!
This is what I found first at a twelve-step group, and later at WCC. I wouldn't want to live any other way!
John, thanks for reading! Yes, I know the challenge of going after our "problem children." I'm sure our record is mixed on this, but when we've gone after them and found them willing to return, it results in enriched and deepened relationships.
Tracy, thanks. We're looking forward to seeing you Sunday.
Mary, you are one of those authentic people that just won't allow the rest of us to linger at a "pseudo-community" level!