Over 75 years ago, researchers began a study of over 250 Harvard college sophomores along with a second cohort of over 450 disadvantaged youths who grew up in Boston. The men continue to be studied to this day (women were added more recently). Over the years, researchers gathered information about the subjects’ mental and physical health, career enjoyment, retirement experience and marital quality.
After directing the study for over three decades, psychiatrist George Vaillant came to the simple conclusion that “the only thing that really matters in life are your relationships to other people.” Robert Waldinger, who succeeded Vaillant in the role, puts a sharper point on it: “Loneliness kills. It’s as powerful as smoking and alcoholism.” He also offers a conclusion brimming with possibility: “Embracing community helps us live longer and be happier.”
As Christians, we celebrate that humankind is made in the image of the Triune God. We were made for relationship with God and with others, just as God’s own life is known by perfect relationship of three persons, one God. It’s important to spend time alone with God, meditating and responding to God’s Word. We are also our best selves in community. Searching the Scriptures, we can locate a few reasons why:
Community is uplifting
Psalm 133:1 sings about “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Christian community is anything but boring. Believers can be clever, goofy, witty, surprising and (sometimes) really fun to be around. We often depend on the assurance of Romans 12:15, “Weep with those who weep,” but forget the verse begins “Laugh with those who laugh.” One of the purposes of community is that life together can, and should, be enjoyed!
Community is encouraging
Being in community gives us the chance to be with people at different stages of the journey toward spiritual maturity—and to “bear their burdens” (Gal. 6:2) with them. Everyone has something to teach and to learn along the way. The Scriptures help us to see believers like Barnabas (an encouraging friend), Paul or Phoebe (teachers and servant leaders) and Timothy (a student) as part of one big, connected community. At any point, you may be some mixture of all these, and that is part of the gift of community. As Hebrews encourages us: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb. 10:24–25)
Community celebrates the ministry of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the binding presence and power that unifies Christians (Eph. 4:2-6). Consider the early church of Acts 2:46-47, which made a habit of meeting together, eating together, and worshiping together. As a result, “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Being together as the church in Sunday worship is vital, but as you follow Christ in the world devoted to practicing community, the work of the Holy Spirit is apparent everywhere you go. And where the Spirit is, ministry is happening, whether the church community is gathered or scattered.
Community nurtures love
The Apostle Paul concludes his ode to love in 1 Corinthians 13 with words you probably know: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (v.13) Love was to be treasured and preserved above all else. When encouraging the church in Colossae, he gave the same counsel: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Col. 3:13–14) As a Christ-follower, he knew that this came straight from Jesus: “…as I have loved you, so also must you love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) The most persuasive means by which we can witness to our faith in Jesus is to be a community that cultivates the most precious gift we can share with one another: love.
Community is life-giving—and essential to following Christ.
We’re made complete when knit together as part of Christian community. “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:4–5)
I know it can be hard for some of us to take another step of commitment to community. I pray that each one of us will risk taking a step closer together, a step of faith, and commit to be more uplifting, encouraging, celebratory and loving. As we do, I believe each of us will be lifted up, encouraged, ministered to and loved. Community is God’s gift to us and desire for us, and sharing life together is a sign of maturing faith. After all, when we grow in our relationships with others, we’re growing in relationship with God!
Grace and Peace,