I’ve lived in community* for 40 years, mostly in houses with over a dozen people. I have loved it (mostly), getting shot of personal wealth, finding who I am in the reality of living together, doing a ‘communism’ of love.
I have been thinking a lot about food lately.
Okay let me rephrase that.
I have been thinking about gathering together to share a meal.
Christmas is a funny one.
Is it just a shallow melee of pagan-rooted consumerism, or is Jesus really the reason for the season? Probably a bit of both. What, then, should we as Christians do with all that?
It’s estimated Jesus walked up to 20 miles a day to spread the Gospel. He travelled light. He wasn’t looking for earthly possessions.
Jesus was looking for relationships. Jesus was looking for people. As a church we intend to follow the example of Jesus, sowing the kingdom of God, seed by seed among the people we interact with.
I was recently watching a documentary about the Gloriavale Christian Community in New Zealand. While convicted by their daily devotion to God and each other I kept thinking of one of my favourite parts of the Bible. Jesus has defeated death and gives his followers the Great Commission:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28)