GlocalNet

The church has discovered the word community and link it from everything from missional to family, etc.  That’s good.  Community is the idea of “common unity.”  We are united by whatever idea, tribe, or clustering factors bring us together.  It carries the idea of intimacy and connectedness.  So, to a large degree, “communities” of faith or “missional” communities are gathering to engage the city in the name of Jesus.  They come as “christian” communities in the name of Jesus serving the braoder city, loving like Jesus and validating the value of the church in the city.

Society is a broader term.  A society has multiple communities that make it up.  Society has domains that it operates on: economics, governance, health, communications, etc.  If you don’t understand both terms, how they are similar and how they are different - you can serve, but still bring no value to the city.  A society is made of of multiple communities of faith, race, backgrounds. 

The grid that all faith communities operate on is the society.  That has some implications that should be understood and create sensitivity towards. 

First, communities of faith should be inclusive when they serve the broader society.  If we serve in the public square - let the public also be a part.  Don’t go as a huddled mass into the big city, world, whatever isolating yourself from others in the name of Jesus.  Instead, broaden those who would want to connect, network, and serve with you.  Part of engaging the city, should be for the church to understand people outside her own tribe.  This is an incredible time to build bridges.  We’ve had other churches, people, and even other faiths wind up getting involved in some of our projects.  It’s good for all of us. 

Second, we are bringing value to more than just our own.  When a missional community or faith community serves the city and the broader society if they are not careful, what they want to be perceived as service is instead perceived as arrogance and superiority.  Be careful about how you celebrate, praise, and talk about your story.  Motivate, encourage, praise those that serve with you - but in a humble sort of way.  Think of how what you say in the public square is perceived by the public.  I’m always thinking how does a Jew, a Muslim, an atheist - or whatever perceive this - how does it come across. 

Third, don’t think you’re the only ones serving the city - you aren’t.  That prevents elitism from being labeled against you.  Lots of other churches, groups, NGOs, and government entities are out there right beside you.  Some are more visible than others for various reasons, but they’re all there.  Get to know them.  I used to be nervous around Catholics - with all the different kinds of people I work with in the world - I get excited when I see them globally!  People far from us - we think - sometimes are much closer to us than we realize. 

Fourth, learn from the society and others.  It will help what you do as a community be far more effective.  I went out to the world to serve it - it wound up serving me and teaching me things about life and God I never would have known any other way. 

I guess what I’m really saying is - it’s great to be a community serving in the name of Jesus - just be an open community - not a closed one.  It defeats the whole purpose of serving the city if you aren’t open.