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A Community Helping Each Other ...
Tuesday, Sept 30, 2014. The big biblical vision of a Christian community is that of brothers and sisters (in the Lord) who live together in peace, who help each other and who love each other deeply.
Vision and Difficulties …
The vision which Jesus himself gives us is great. It is a vision which could not be broader or deeper. It is a vision which could not be more difficult. Of course, we will have difficulties with it. Even people who believe in Christ Jesus are so different, that conflicts and fights are bound to come.
Let us have a realistic view into the world today. There are people of all different kinds. There are those with left and right political opinions. There are those who want communism, others who want capitalism. There are those who want a complete ethical freedom with respect to partnership, others who want to support only the one-man-with-one-woman marriage, which the bible tells us to be God's template for our life. But more severe than this: there is a real fight about ressources, about power, about distribution of things. There are those who kill in the name of their particular religion, in the name of God, some even in the name of Jesus.
Even within any small community there are conflicts. Some want to lead, others might not want them to lead. Some want to do particular things, others think they are not gifted and should not do it. Some want this or that to happen (but do not know how they could make it happen). We have enough problems and difficulties with the biblical task of living together in peace. We are quite far from the command, which Jesus gives us: love one another. Even love your enemy!
Status and Challenges …
So is there any chance to make progress with the command, which Jesus told us? Is there any chance to make real progress, not just to create a community where on some superficial layer we pretend to do what he wants, but our hearts are far from him?
I believe that there is a chance to make progress. But it does not come from big claims or from rules which a community would put onto itself. It does not come from big leaders who tell everyone what to do. It starts with you! When you want to have this community in your life, let God change your own heart. It can be a reality, starting from any day, starting today. It comes when God opens your heart, when you start to love as he loves, when you start to forgive as he forgives.
Every community consists of individuals. And the community of Christ consists of people who believe in him, who trust in him, who follow him. Here, his love starts to grow in the heart of those who are touched and filled by his spirit. It is not the other Christian who needs change, it is you and your heart who can change and will change, when you trust the Lord. The community of faith starts there deep in your heart. And when it starts there, it is immediately filling your heart and your mind. You find yourself in a new era, in a new time. It starts with YOUR heart! Then, there is no doubt that his wonders come, and that his community lives in and around you! (Roland Potthast) ... more texts