I’m passionate about creating authentic community and meaningful connections. I believe it is only meaningful when we make it personal. We have to open up our own raw stories and gently host and encourage the raw stories of others. This is scary stuff! The truth is that we can only love each other to the extent we know each other. Knowing each other more allows us to love each other more. It is in doing this that we find ourselves in authentic and holy community.
Authentic community is God’s idea. He designed the church to be a healthy and deeply connected body that lives out 1 Corinthians 12 which says: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it, if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” That’s pretty intense. We have to know each other insanely well to be able to pull that off. But God takes it further. In the same chapter the apostle Paul talks about us being indispensable to each other. Really? If this is true we have barely scratched the surface of authentic community.
Having any kind of meaningful connection in a church is hard. I get that. Often the systems and structures (and perhaps people) that govern our churches do more to hinder community than encourage it. But I’m noticing a movement. God has a scattering of people like us that are tired of superficial relationships and long for something deeper. Are we willing to brave the wilds of authentic community to find it? For many of us this will be an uncharted adventure. We may have to create our authentic community from scratch.
It’s not going to be easy. We know this quest for authentic community will come with unexpected obstacles, nasty sabotagers, unnecessary resistance, discouragement and shattered ideals. Sound fun? I say we do it anyway and figure out how to brave these wilds together. Are you with me?
Beth
Does this resonate with you? Do you want to experience more authenticity in your church? Contact me today and let’s figure out how to brave the wilds of authentic community together.