Community.... what is it?

OK so lately I have been wondering what it means to be in a community (as Christians). I have been wondering how, as a church, do you take care of/ keep tabs on everyone in the congregation.

Lately I have been running into people that have felt wounded by the church (in this case my church) because there haven't been follow up when they don't come to the church or leave the church... I know what they are saying... in a way. You want to be missed... it is natural... and people think it is the job of the pastors to chase them down. But they did leave... or not show up for a while...and they are adults... so it is hard for me to think chasing people is a good idea all the time. BUT on the other hand... people are what community is all about... people are in essence what the church is about and what life in general is about. It is just tough for me to make a blanket statement about how to handle the situation. But I think it is a deeper problem then just "whether the church followed up with people".

First off let me say... I don't think Lakeshore Vineyard leadership/staff does everything right...in fact they do things wrong all the time.... this is mainly because they are people and people do stupid crap.

So here is the problem.... for the most part, in Western Christianity, we have no freakin idea what a Christian community is... we know what the American church has showed us for so many years (which has done a lot of good around the world but also has turned into a religion... with rules regulations, guidelines and traditions). What do I mean by this.... the church right now... so many people right now.... have no idea how to participate in a Christian community.

Community is not Sunday morning (IT DOESN'T WORK TO JUST GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY... if that is all you do... you miss the whole point). It is relationships.... deep relationships... actually opening up to one another... showing people all the crap you have in your life (hmmm... image that scary thought... being honest). But because of all of our rules regulations and assumptions... somewhere along the line we (in our culture) decided it would be a good idea to try and do our best to internalize all of our problems and issues. Christians now think "We must look good and happy in our lives... we show the world Jesus by hiding all of our issues... by being fake." The only problem is eventually (if all you are doing is stuffing your junk deep down inside yourself) it all comes out... or all seeps out... and you know what? People see that... and the quickly realized many Christians are fully of $#!!. Because, honestly, we are full of "it".

Bottom line.... church is about small groups BUT not many small groups get community either. I am tired of Bible studies and Sunday school lessons. Yes, you can get good stuff out of those meetings but it is so rare that you actually just sit and hear one another's hearts in those groups. That is way my favorite times in a small group is prayer time (if everyone is honest it is good but people naturally don't want to open up but you need to... Now I don't need all the dirty laundry air all the time but it is ok to have dirty laundry... Christian community is working on your laundry together... with a bottle of concentrated Jesus stain remover.... (alright that was a bit cheesey).

Admittedly, it is hard to find a group to be honest in... that you feel comfortable in but YOU have to step outside yourself too. The same is true when people leave the church and think they need a call from people at the church... sometimes you have to do it...not all the time (sometimes, sadly, people do fall through the cracks) but truthfully sometimes you have to make the call... pastors are just regular people, so crazy high standard for them are unrealistic and dumb (I never want to have to fit into people's mold expectations.. and frankly, I never will... I'll make sure).

It is still a tough call....what to do about people... cause people are tough and all different...
But I think if you whole heartily pored yourself into a community... if you honestly shared LIFE together... people would be upset if you left the church... you would get many follow up calls (as long as you weren't a jerk about leaving but even then you still should get calls). Because you would have become family to those people in that small group. You've personally invested in people and people have invested in you... people care about stuff they invest in (money or people). You would have been sharing life together OUTSIDE of a Sunday. People will miss you. No the pastors might not call you (but it is more likely) but who frinkin cares as long as your FRIENDS are calling you. You see it is not about the leadership in the church... it is about the people in the church.... to often we are obsessed with the leadership.... this church IS YOURS... it is the people's (and the staff is working on making that more the case now then before).

So invest yourself... yes this might take time and energy.... I am sorry (no, not really).

And in my churches case.... just hang on people... we are changing... it has been a tough couple of years and I know we are all tired of waiting (as we have been for 5 years) but the Paul thing is a rather LARGE transition... so work with the church... be patent... pray for the leadership and the church...maybe even invest yourself into the leadership (how weird would that be?). But God is in charge and the leadership lets God lead. So it is all good...