Reflections on Community

One of the most striking descriptions of the early church is found in Acts 2:46-47: "And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people."

What stands out is the expression, "day by day." The early Christians spent time together every day. They loved being together. They couldn't get enough of each other. They met for worship in the Temple; they gathered in each others homes; they were constantly sharing life together.

One of the hallmarks of modern life is social isolation. About half of Americans report feeling acute loneliness and disconnection. There are just so many barriers to social connection nowadays. I can see it in my own children. I remember when I was a kid, anytime I wanted to hang out with a friend, I would just hop on a bike and knock on his door. Many times, there were kids playing out in the streets, and I would just go out and join them. But now, almost all social interactions for kids have to be arranged and planned. As a result, there are just less opportunities to be with friends.

One of the great blessings of church is this rhythm and expectation of communal life. A central aspect of church is meeting together frequently -- to worship, to pray, and to just be together. This is God's good design. He created human beings to enjoy deep fellowship and spiritual life together. What a blessing from our heavenly Father.

Image: "The Last Supper" by Michael Damaskinos (1591)