Community Building and Care
By Norma Rohn
ChristCare members spend a great deal of time
and energy in Building Community and Care within
their ChristCare Groups. This type of Community
Building and Care is best described by the Greek
word "koinonia." Let's take a moment
to read Luke's description of koinonia as it was
practiced in the early Christian Church.
"They devoted themselves to the apostles'
teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because
many wonders and signs were being done by the
apostles. All who believed were together and had
all things in common; they would sell their possessions
and goods and distribute the proceeds to all,
as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much
time together in the temple, they broke bread
at home and ate their food with glad and generous
hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of
all the people. And day by day the Lord added
to their number those who were being saved."
(Acts 2:42-47).
Life in Luke's days was difficult to say the
least. There was hunger, poverty, illness, crime
and injustice everywhere. Is it any different
today? Are we not faced with many of the same
or equally difficult situations? Consider the
loss of jobs, problems at work, the untimely death
of a loved one, divorce, financial misfortune,
crime, illness, yes, even danger and fears of
war, nuclear weapons, terrorism and bio-terrorism.
Is there any doubt that today's people need koinonia
just as badly as did the people of Luke's time?
We need Biblical koinonia to give us a life-tie
or bond not only to other Christians but also
a life-tie or bond to God, our Heavenly Father.
What a wonderful release and yes, even a privilege,
to share the hurts, pleasures, concerns, fears,
injustices, joys and sorrows with other Christian
friends who are totally and completely non-judgmental…
friends who can listen and hear what you say and
understand what you mean… friends who won't
criticize or condemn what others share, but instead
affirm the positive things we see in one another.
What an awesome experience it is to know that
others care about you, that they rejoice with
you on good days and they are there to comfort
you when life's problems overwhelm you. Surely
there can be no greater joy than to know that
others will be there to support and reassure you,
and most importantly that they can and will pray
for you. They will call upon our Heavenly Father
to strengthen and sustain you, grant you wisdom,
comfort and even release you from the trials and
struggles of this world. How good it is to be
able to share with a fellow Christian that you
have been praying for them and to know that they
have been praying for you as well.
Surely our Lord has given us the gift of one
another as brothers and sisters in Christ just
as He has given us the faith to believe in Him.
Won't you allow your fellow ChristCare members
to show that gift of fellowship or koinonia to
you? AND more importantly, won't you allow yourself
to be the brother or sister in Christ who gives
that gift of koinonia to another?
Copyright Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 2003.
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