"It is not good for the man to be alone." – Genesis 2:18a

Not long ago I put on a sweater and found a couple of loose threads,
so I did exactly what you're not supposed to do…I pulled them. And I
pulled them. And I pulled them. And before I knew it I had a handful
of loose threads and a whole new fashion sensation that I like to
call the "short-sleeved sweater".

According to sociologists something similar is happening to the
fabric of human society in America. The threads that hold us
together are getting pulled apart. In his landmark book
entitled "Bowling Alone," Dr. Robert Putnam, a professor at Harvard
University, traces the growing crisis of social isolation in
America. Dr. Putnam draws on evidence including nearly 500,000
interviews over the last quarter century to show that we belong to
fewer organizations that meet, know our neighbors less, meet with
friends less frequently, and even socialize with our families less
often. We're even bowling alone. More Americans are bowling than
ever before, but they are not bowling in leagues; they are bowling
by themselves. Putnam shows how changes in work, family structure,
age, suburban life, television, computers and other factors have
contributed to this decline in our sense of community and
connectedness.

This growing trend toward isolation is not just a social problem;
it's a spiritual problem. You and I were made for community. Way
back in Genesis 2, God said, "It is not good for the man to be
alone." God made your heart to yearn for community. Deep within
every heart is a longing to know and be known, to love and be loved,
to serve and be served, to celebrate and be celebrated. And the
reason God put that longing into every one of our hearts is that we
need one another. Ever notice how many "one another" mandates there
are in the New Testament? Love one another, forgive one another,
encourage one another. The New Testament was written from the
assumption that we would live faith together.

When the Church was born (Acts, chapter 2), the Bible tells us that
followers of Jesus immediately became a community. They learned
together, worshiped together, ate their meals together, and shared
all that they had with one another. Some of us hear those words and
think, "That's way too much togetherness for me! You people would
start to get on my nerves." And it's true, they would. And they did
2,000 years ago. Ever wonder why the early church letters stress
forgiveness so much? But the early Christian community was more
interested in growing together than in being comfortable alone. Are
you? There are risks to being in spiritual community, because
spiritual community is made up of sinners - redeemed sinners, but
sinners all the same - people who sometimes allow selfishness and
anger and gossip get the best of them. But that is exactly why
spiritual community is the perfect laboratory for spiritual growth;
it allows us to flex all of our spiritual muscles including
forgiveness, patience, selflessness, humility, and self-control.

For the next few days I want to share a few observations about
Christian community from Acts 2. Let's look into the Word…together!

Bringing It Home
1. What has been your experience with Christian community? What
challenges have you faced? What blessings have you experienced?
2. To what do you attribute the growing cultural trend toward
social isolation? What are the implications for society? For the
Church?

Prayer
Gracious God, you exist in community as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
You also made me for community. Thank you for making believers one
in Christ. Forgive me for failing to live out the reality that of
belonging to others in faith and love. Teach and empower me to love
others in the body of Christ so that our life together might be a
witness to the world of your love. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Jeff Marian
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Burnsville, MN
www.princeofpeaceonline.org

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