By Jamal Hudson
When we look at biblical community, we see that belonging, connection, and shared life are part of God’s design.
When I think about the word “Community.”
There are several definitions for community. Today I want to focus on Merriam-Webster’s short definition of “A unified body of individuals.” In other words, community means a group of people connected like puzzle pieces, each different in size and shape, yet all fitting together as one.
This is how God’s Kingdom was intended to be. You see, community is more than just a worldly idea or some strategy created by the church. Community has always been central to God’s design. God is fundamentally relational, and we have been created to be in relationship with Him and one another. So when I look at community from a biblical perspective, I can easily see that belonging, connecting, and bonding are directly tied to who God is and how He wants us to live.
In the beginning of scripture, God says, “ It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (Gen 2:18). This statement is foundational because it was made before sin entered the world, and everything God had created up to this point was “good”. But the first thing God says is “not good” is loneliness. This shows that God never wanted us to be isolated.
He wanted us to be in a relationship with one another and intentionally created us to live in community. When we remember the relational nature of God, He is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the only perfect community. And since we have been made in the image of God, that means we are also relational by nature. God created us to give and receive love, to know other people, and belong to something bigger than ourselves. In a community, we see God’s character and experience God’s love through others.
This is further reinforced in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, which reads,” Two are better than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Here we can see that it is vital that we are connected. God never intended us to deal with life alone. He knows that life can be hard, and community is a place that gives us strength, provides support, and encouragement when we are at our weakest.
When we don’t live in community and choose to be isolated, we place ourselves in a very dangerous position. Isolation can cause a person to be emotionally withdrawn and lead them to unhealthy ways to fill that need to connect. These substitutes may include overworking or other addictions, but they will never fully satisfy because they don’t meet our God-given need for relationship.
Now, on the other hand, living in a healthy community brings healing. God loves to comfort us through other people. God uses our relationships to bring us encouragement, correction, and love. When we actively participate in the community and connect with others, we begin to live as God intended. This results in us experiencing the fullness of God.
Community helps us grow, gives us hope, and reminds us that we are not alone.
In Romans, the Apostle Paul writes in Chapter 12:4-5, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” Like the puzzle pieces mentioned above. All are different, but fit together as one. In a community, we are not all the same, but we are mutually dependent on one another. Each of us matters and plays a significant role in the community. No one is deemed unnecessary, and no one is meant to be alone.
Unfortunately, we live in a culture that often celebrates being independent. We must be careful not to become so independent as to isolate ourselves. Social influences and the pressures of this world can push a person to become withdrawn, but scripture invites us to a shared life and shared faith.
God’s plan was never for us to be individualistic. We can see that, by reading scripture, from the beginning of creation to the present, God has formed people into families, churches, and communities that reflect His relational nature. And by embracing community, we find support and align ourselves with God’s original plan.
To live in community is to admit that “I need you, and you need me.” It is choosing to connect and resisting the urge to isolate. I truly believe that God does his deepest work in us through others we connect with.
