A New Way to Live Together

Today I was reading chapter seven in Soul Revolution (by John Burke). It's all about relating to others. It was such a good chapter. I really needed to be reminded of what community should look like. It describes the type of community I want to experience. I want to share some excerpts from the chapter.

God wants to lead you into a freedom to fully be you - who he created you to be - free to respond to him and better love those closest to you. p.105

It will mean overcoming our fears - fears of trusting, fears of rejection, fears of being let down or hurt. p.106

God wants a community of people who tangibly show his grace to one another - who demonstrate his acceptance and who draw near to each other without condemnation. p.107

Grace allows people to come out of hiding, to be authentic, to stop concealing their wounds or pretending it's all good! p.109

At our church, we say "No Perfect People Allowed." We tell people, "If you want to pretend you have no struggles, no problems, no sins, no wounds, then go play that game somewhere else, because that's not real. But if we can agree to be authentic with our struggles, doubts, and temptations, then we can actually walk together, pray for each other, and help each other grow." p.110

Healing almost always comes through community. It's God's plan. Spirituality is relational! p.112

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16

God ants to lead us to be a healing community as simple, ordinary people learn to accept, forgive, encourage, and walk with each other no matter how ugly or messy it gets. p.113

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another. Hebrews 10:24-25