Nonfiction

True Community

I can’t say Jerry Bridges’ True Community bowled me over. It’s not that kind of book. But it did validate the hunger I feel for more depth of spiritual fellowship. It’s mainly a definitional book that explores the different aspects of the biblical concept of “koinonia,” by which Bridges means “sharing of a common life.” It involves more than the superficial socializing that can be had at church gatherings, and more than a feeling of being a dedicated member of an institution.

Bridges takes up a number of different aspects of community as exemplified in the Bible, including the fellowships of serving, suffering, and sharing possessions. Obviously it’s a challenging book because it goes beyond the institutional perspective that views the church in terms of its staff or its mission statement or its administrative practices.

There isn’t a lot of “how to” advice to be had in this book; it’s not a “strategic planning for small group ministry” book. It’s based on the assumption that where the Holy Spirit is present and active in the body of Christ, and where biblical teaching is understood, there will be results. “One of the marks of a truly good church or Christian group on a campus or a military base should be the warmth of its fellowship,” writes Bridges at one point.

I think that there is great emphasis on the preaching of the Word in evangelicalism, and this is important. I learned years ago, when I gave up on church for awhile and found myself making a series of very foolish decisions, that I need to be part of a church; it provides guardrails against self-deception. Theoretically, it also provides accountability.

But at this point I am coming to recognize that fellowship may be my number one need from the body of Christ. Without it, the facts and understandings gained from good teaching, or reading, or even from the Bible itself, pale into abstractions. We are made not just to exist in restored relationship with God, but to be connected with one another. That’s where truth is validated, and where, when my own experience seems to contradict what the word of God says, I can see it or be reminded of it in the love and the testimony of others. It’s one of the first things we learn in Genesis: “it is not good for humans to be alone.” God said that even when he was in perfect fellowship with Adam, before any disruption from sin. It resonates even more in the isolated and self-sufficient modern world we’ve created.

8 Comments

  • Barbara H.

    I’m reading my first Bridges book, and I’m generally getting a lot from it. Community is a hard concept for me to accept that I need, because I am generally content alone and get more out of sermons when I’m listening on my computer with a Bible program open and a Word document to jot down notes (and the ability to replay a section if I’ve missed something. :-) ). But you bring up very valid reasons for community.

    • Janet

      I can relate. I think I have a similar comfort zone :-)

      But lately I’ve noticed a relationship between my spiritual vitality and my fellowship vitality. Part of the Word becoming “living and active” seems to be involvement with brothers and sisters in Christ.

  • JW

    I know that *I* need community – to keep me thinking about others. I learn compassion – by being required to show compassion. I learn forgiveness – by having to forgive. I learn servanthood – by truly working with and serving others and seeing to their needs. Thanks for sharing about this book. I love Bridges’ other works and will look into this one.

    • Janet

      Hi JW!

      This is apparently a book he wrote awhile back that is reappearing with this title. It’s well worth reading… There are discussion questions at the end of the chapters so it could be used as a study book, too.

  • Amy

    I’m going through a really dry time spiritually right now and have a decided lack of spiritual community or fellowship due to busy-mess (and honestly lack of desire on my part). This sounds like a book that would be of benefit to me.

  • Janet

    You’re not alone in feeling the lack, that’s for sure. I think a lot of things conspire against true community.

    Maybe we should start the community of the communityless. :-) (I wonder if that’s partly what the Internet is, come to think of it.)

  • Sherry

    I find the concept of “community” fascinating, the actual day-to-day working out of it, not so much. I think I have this idealized concept in my mind that the community will be there when *I* need it and not get in the way when I’d just as soon be alone and unencumbered.

  • Janet

    It’s interesting, this ambivalence we feel.

    I wonder if it’s because our concept of community is institutional and feels like “one more thing” — rather than interpersonal…