[Scripture:Revelation 7:9-17]
We live in a society that encourages people to speak up for their own opinions and to live the way they believe. This is the freedom guaranteed to everyone by the Constitution. They are also guaranteed the freedom to choose how they live according to their beliefs. This is possible because we are living in a country of democracy.
In this society, everyone is encouraged to express their opinions and live their own way of life. For this reason, social conflict is persistent and something unavoidable that we must deal with.
Different Thought Processes
I have a question that shows how people’s thinking processes work differently. The question is this: Between the choices of a dog, a monkey, and a banana, which two do you decide to group together?
Some people put the monkey and the dog in the same category because they are both animals. This is indicative of an analytic thinking style in which objects are perceived independently from their context.
The other people will often select the monkey and the banana because these objects belong in the same environment and share a relationship. (Monkeys eat bananas). This is a holistic thinking style in which the object and context are perceived to be interrelated.
This story tells us that we live in a society with people who have completely different mindsets, lifestyles, standards, and cultures from us.
What do you think about the Church? The Church is a community of faith where people with different mindsets, lifestyles, and standards gather together and share time and space to serve God. So sometimes the Church has problems.
The Meaning of Community
I ask you to think about the word “community” for a moment. What is your first impression or what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about the word “community”? I will begin with a couple of questions.
- The first question: What is your definition of “community”?
- The second question: What do you think the perfect biblical community looks like?
I just checked the English dictionary to know the definition of “community.” “Community” means people living in a particular area with common interests. The biblical definition of “community” might be “koinonia,” which means having fellowship in the name of Jesus Christ. People gathered in one place to share the Word of God, eat bread, and drink wine at one table.
Two things are important to know the meaning of “community.” In community or Koinonia, people share a common interest and share a place.
So, I did my research to find out what was the perfect biblical community in the Bible.
The Garden of Eden is the first image that comes to my mind when I think of the word “community” in the Bible. This example of a perfect community is in Genesis 1-2 because God was there with Adam and Eve.
I made a couple of raised gardens in my backyard and have enjoyed watching them grow. I sowed seeds for baby bok choy, radishes, and spinach, and I waited a couple of days. Finally, the sprouts came out, and I was so excited. So, I called Lisa to come to see them. It was a lovely garden to watch. But after a few days, I was a little disappointed and wondered why my garden had so many weeds here and there that I hadn’t even planted or expected.
After that happened, I realized that the Garden of Eden was not a perfect community because there was temptation and evil around them even God did not want.
The second option for a perfect community was Jesus’ fellowship community. There were twelve disciples, and they walked, ate, and drank together at the table that Jesus prepared for them. This faith community, which was under the control of Jesus, looked perfect, but it was not because a man was there to betray Jesus.
Finally, I found the perfect biblical community in the Bible. That was the one mentioned in Revelation 7:15-17. “They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple, and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'”
This seems to be a perfect biblical example of community or Koinonia because no evil and temptation exist around them. But the only problem is that we cannot have that kind of ideal community here and now because it is God’s promise to be completed in the future.
My research for a perfect faith community in the present has failed. There is no community of faith that is morally perfect on this earth, only a community that is justified by the blood of Jesus Christ and being sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit.
A Faith Community Post-Pandemic
What kind of faith gathering community looks perfect in your sight? What kind of church are you looking to be a part of?
Now, the Church has faced many challenges since the pandemic. I recently had a one-on-one zoom meeting with our district superintendent. She said that in almost every church in our district, only 50-60% of church members have returned to in-person service. The data tells us to know that some Christians seem to feel comfortable when they are participating in online worship services.
I believe that we need to provide an online worship service for those who could not come to the in-person worship service for various reasons.
However, as a pastor of a local church, I am faced with a dilemma between the pursuit of convenience and the reality of spiritual disadvantages. Offering online worship is a convenient way to get people to attend church services, but there are spiritual downsides. It means that we can’t have a holistic experience of worship and joy where everyone can worship together.
For instance, Lisa came to this state three and a half years ago, and she Facetimes her mom every other day. Do you know what she always says to me after she finishes her Facetime for over an hour with her mom? She says it is not enough. “I want to see her and touch her and do something together with her in person.” Online is convenient and beneficial, but it does not give us a full sense of connection nor touching relationships.
In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus made it clear about the spiritual benefits and responsibilities for when people come to serve and worship God. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jesus asked us to come to him not only to receive the rest that he gives us but also to take his yoke. And he said that would give us complete rest.
Rest is a spiritual benefit that comes from him, and taking his yoke is a responsibility for us in order to obtain complete rest in Jesus Christ.
In conclusion
There is no morally perfect and ideal worshiping community on this earth; only a community of morally imperfect people gathering to worship the perfect God. The biblical meaning of “worship” is to give God our time and space and to worship in spirit and truth. Worship is not a time for the church to serve you, but it is your time to serve God. If you come to the place to worship in spirit and truth, you can experience the showers of blessing that God provides for you. Carleton Church is an imperfect community, but we try to worship God in spirit and truth. Be with us to worship God, you can experience an abundant blessing when we stay as a community of God.
2022.06.12.Pastor Cloud Poy
@ Photo on Unsplash
