The Myth of Self-Sufficiency
The ideal in the United States is personal self-sufficiency. But this is a myth, an unattainable pursuit that will eventually leave us broken or alone—or both.
John Donne understood this. He said “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.” We need others; we need community.
God knows this, too.
God Lives in Community
The Father with the Son, the Son with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit with the Father. We call this the Trinity, God as three in one. Though we don’t fully understand how one entity can be three, we accept it. It is community at its finest.
God Created Us to Be in Community
In community with him and in community with others.
One of the descriptions of community from the Bible tells us to encourage each other to love and help people and “not give up meeting together.”
While a quick reaction to the phrase “meeting together” implies going to church, this is an oversimplification.
Although meeting together can happen at church (though it’s not guaranteed), these times of meeting together can also happen in homes, at work, in coffee shops and restaurants, and even when we play.
When done with purpose, our meeting together can produce meaningful community, the community God created us for, the community we need to thrive and be complete.
May we pursue community with great intention; may we embrace it as God’s plan for us.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
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