The Church is Community
One problem of Christianity in 2009 is the failure to see the value a specific church offers to an individual person. Biblically, the church is not a part of the cultural community. It’s a whole new community. Recognizing the value of that community to its fullest will bring home the truth that Christians cannot achieve or maintain spiritual health apart from dedicated involvement in a church.
A believer receives great value in the support received from other believers who hold the same values. People of similar principles serve to strengthen each other’s resolve. That is an extremely valuable community.
Rick Warren states in his book, The Purpose Driven Life - 40 Days of Purpose, pg. 130, “You are called to belong, not just believe. Even in the perfect, sinless environment of Eden, God said, 'It is not good for man to be alone.' We are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family, and none of us can fulfill God’s purpose by ourselves.”
He goes on to say on page 132, “The Bible knows nothing of solitary saints or spiritual hermits isolated from other believers and deprived of fellowship. Except for a few important instances referring to all believers throughout history, almost every time the word church is used in the Bible it refers to a local, visible congregation. The New Testament assumes membership in a local congregation. The only Christians not members of a local fellowship were those under church discipline who had been removed from the fellowship because of gross public sin.” (I Cor. 5:1-13; Gal. 6:1-5)
The question then, in my view, should not be, Why be part of a church? but instead Shouldn’t I make sure to be a faith part of such a caring community?
This is one reason we have begun at Hannaford a Thursday night church service. Each Thursday at 6:30 pm, we shall conduct a church service for those who would be unable to come on Sunday morning. In my opinion Sundays are best, but sometimes Thursdays will be the only option. We expect to see summertime church attendances soar, not subside.
Dick Crosby, Senior Pastor
