BBC 4: Community - Introduction

Sorry for the long absence from discussion of A Good Life. I have been encouraged in actual (as opposed to virtual) conversations I have had with people from the Jacob's Well community around this book or its attendant themes. In fact, one community group has decided to read the book together and discuss it and its implications among themselves - which I love. Such spaces have the potential to allow the greatest amount of integration into life and that, my friends, is the goal...and the theme of this next chapter.

We are now at the halfway point of Benson's book. I think I have actually blogged more words about the book than the actual book contains. Which says something...anyway. The third component of a good life, according to Benedict and Benson, is community. Such a buzz-word these days. Everyone wants to experience community. Yet no one is sure about what is exactly meant by the word "community," or what it would take to actually engage in it. The desire for and belief in the power of community was one of the primary forces that shaped how we conceived Jacob's Well when we began ten years ago.

What does Benedict have to say about community? Little about the idea of community itself, actually, and a lot about what it looks like to be a community that has Christ at its center. Let's highlight a few of his statements from the epigraph to chapter four.

See how the Lord in his love shows us the way of life. Show equal love to everyone. Accommodate and adapt yourself to each one's character and intelligence. Imitate the example of the Good Shepherd who left the ninety-nine and went in search of the one who had strayed. All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ. Great care and concern are to be shown in receiving poor people and pilgrims, because in them more particularly Christ is received. Christ is to be adored because he is indeed welcome in them.

According to Benedict, as interpreted by Benson, part of the good life offered to us in Christ is participation in community. Interestingly, it is not the community of our choice. Rather it is the community who chooses us. We are to receive those who come to us as Christ. We are to make allowances for those who differ from us. We are to prefer those who stray from those who stay. What do you make of this?

He continues:

Express your opinions with all humility, and not presume to defend you own views obstinately. Never give a hollow greeting of peace or turn away when someone needs your love. Do not repay one bad turn with another. Do not injure anyone, but bear injuries patiently. If people curse you, do not curse them back but bless them instead. Pray for your enemies out of love for Christ...No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else. Let us set out on this way, with the Gospel for our guide, that we may deserve to see him who has called us to his kingdom.

Wow. That is convicting. Yes? Don't we normally function as if community is something that we pick based on its ability to make our life better? I thought so. Me, too. A good life, presented here by Benedict, means being a part of a community (and not one chosen completely by ourselves or for ourselves) for the benefit of those with whom we are sharing life. That is so upside-down. Thoughts?

Comments

[Adam]

The striking thing to me is that you have to trust that these authors are right. It's not that Benedict and Benson are pursuing a good life while I am pursuing a bad life, but more my own way is not leading to where I want to go. The first step towards the good life is acknowledging that I don't know the way. Similar to the first step towards wisdom is getting wisdom.

[rebekah]

Wow, I am very confused, convicted and awed by this section of the book. I tend to compartmentalize my life. Work, school and social are all very separate.
I love and am greatly challenged by the notion of community not being picked by me but one that chooses me. Humbling.

[Eric Disney]

this really does kind of upend my idea of community--I had always thought that community should be a warm fuzzy experience of being with, and sharing with people I LIKED or LOVED or CARED ABOUT...of MY choosing. Real life example-last weekend,I spent some time helping a member of my impact group with a painting project in his home [along with some other members of the group], as well as got together with other members of the group on Sun. to make soup for the Tues. eve Lenten break-fast. In both cases it was such a great fun time of sharing a common task and getting to know each other better. I felt, yes, a warm fuzzy, that I had just experienced "community"--well, maybe--or was it just a good time with friends??? I honestly don't think I would have felt the same had it been a group of random people I didn't know very well, or, heaven forbid, didn't LIKE [because they weren't like me]. So, I'm thinking that community is not necessarily about good times with good people [although that IS a part of it] but more about messy uncomfortable times of togetherness and sharing in ways that are WAY out of our comfort zone and trusting that God will grace us with the sense of the goodness and the rightness of this.Especially during these difficult economic times, I think all of us who call ourselves followers of Christ are really going to be put to the test. Help me, Rhonda!

[Tim]

Thanks for the comments, gang.

Eric, I think that the community that you are experiencing is both wonderful and a sign of God's grace in your life. The last thing that I think that either Benson or Benedict or I would ever suggest is that you should abandon what is good for what is tough. I do think, though, that we are to be open to the possibility of being challenged.

Oftentimes the problem with our versions of community is that they become insular and self-serving - they can begin to exist exclusively to meet our needs. This is where Benedict's emphasis on hospitality is so critical: the community that we have with one another is always to remain open to those outside itself. I remember hearing a great quote (I cannot remember from who) to that effect: "The church is the only community that exists for the benefit of non-members."

So the question becomes how do we see outsiders? Are they disruptions to "our" community, or are they welcomed guests who present us with the chance to serve and see Christ in them?