Daily Word: Community Involvement

Proverbs 23:15-16 say: My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. My soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. (RSV) Hebraic thought focuses on community and not our individual successes. Greek thought promotes individual thinking and achievement. To the Hebrew, it was all about community. The covenant at Mount Sinai was with the entire nation of Israel, not individual members. Christianity focuses on our personal relationship with God, whereas the Hebrew saw the relationship as your being part of a community that had a relationship with God. It is not a subtle distinction. You can't be right with God if you are not right with the other members of the community. Perhaps Jesus' words make more sense now: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Matthew 5:23-24 (KJV) Community had to be in right relationship before approaching the altar with a gift for the Lord.

Consider the modern church; people can sit in the pews holding grudges against each other and think nothing about it. We need to restore the concept of community to our walk with God. Actually without it, you can't walk with Him. There are no "Lone Rangers" in God's kingdom. Look at the words of the Lord's Prayer. Did you notice that the pronouns are plural, e.g. Our, us, those, us. There is no individuality in that prayer. If you pray it, you are praying on behalf of a group, i.e. a community.

Today, ask yourself about your relationship with your community of faith. Don't think that you can be right with God and at odds with your church family. Seek peace with all men. Follow peace with all men. These verses should mean more to you now. They are about community and community is important with God.