On Community

“Ever since the first computers, there have always been ghosts in the machine. Random segments of code that have grouped together to form unexpected protocols. Unanticipated, these free radicals endanger questions of free will, creativity, and even the nature of what we might call the soul. Why is it that when some robots are left in darkness, they will seek out the light? Why is it that when robots are stored in an empty space they will group together, rather than stand alone? How do we explain this behavior? Random segments of code? Or is it something more? When does a perceptual schematic become consciousness? When does a difference engine become the search for truth? When does a personality simulation become the bitter mote... of a soul?” -Dr. Alfred Lanning, iRobot.

Why is it, that when in darkness, we seek out the light? Why is it that when we are in a space, we will naturally seek each other out, rather than stand alone? My conclusion is that, like the fictional robots in iRobot, it is because of something more than just our programming, more than just our skin and bones, more than just our muscles and our tendons, and our cells. My conclusion is that it is because of this thing called the soul, because our most inner being, our core, our hearts and our souls desire is to be in community. 

We see evidence of this throughout history. God created Eve, because he did not want Adam to be alone. Jesus called the church to be a grouping of believers. And, most of all, God himself is a community. 

Now, that idea of God as a community is something I’ve just learned this past week at Passion 2013.  Judah Smith, a pastor out in Seattle WA spoke on this topic Thursday morning, and explained that God himself is a community. Yes, he is one singular being, composed of three separate but equal entities. God himself, Jesus himself is and is a part of a community. And as we are called, nay, created to strive after him, we have been called and created to live into a community. I would also venture to say that there are numerous reasons for this.

I think to Francis Chan’s sermon on Wednesday night about seeing God revealed through Kingdom Building in evangelism. He mentioned that it is often through our good works in proclaiming the Gospel to others that Christ is seen and exalted, and that if we aren’t seeing Christ at work in our lives, then it’s not because he isn't working, rather that its because we aren’t. 

Judah Smith followed him up the following morning with an analogy about sharks, and the research that has been done with great whites off the coast of South Africa. Research has shown that sharks are more likely to attack a seal if it is alone, showing that seals are generally safer when traveling in groups, and I imagine that this same idea can be applied to humans in the water, but it has greater meaning beyond just that of the shark. This community is a haven, generally something safe. In Hebrews, Paul writes about running our race with a “great cloud of witnesses”, together, with others. 

But the beauty of the idea of community is that it applies to non-believers as well, perhaps even more. As believers, we are called to speak on and give testimony to the hope of the Gospel we have seen in our own lives. And, as Francis Chan mentioned, this is also another way that we see Christ moving in our lives. 

if you were at Passion, or saw any of the pictures or any of the live stream, then you probably saw the magnitude of this generation of young people willing to stand, and to have their voice heard for their King. While in the Georgia Dome, in the midst of sessions or lunch, I couldn’t help but to pause, and to look around, and to try, key word there is try, to take in the magnitude of this Jesus movement. Standing in a room of 60,000 people is a reasonably big deal, at least in my tiny life’s opinion. When you look around, and see 60K plus singing and praying for the Holy Spirit to be welcome and to fill the place that they are in, it has certain moving effects that include but are not limited to jaw dropping, chills running down the back, and wide open eyes. 

When you pause, and once again emphasizing the word try here to take it all in, you realize the magnitude not of the movement, but of the God that has started this stirring. You begin to think of the ways that he is moving powerfully in the building, in the city, in the state, in the country, in the world. You get this glimpse of the “immeasurably more”. This community of believers, who has gathered together to worship, to learn, and to be encouraged in their walk. You see a mass of people stand together in the cold at midnight to shout and to sing for the freedom of the enslaved and the lost. You see a God ready to do immeasurably more, ready to take the unbelief of the masses, and to work it into belief. You see a people ready to stand through the grace and love and hope of their God, ready to follow him at all cost.