As a member church of the Ecclesia Network I hear this phrase often: “an intentional community.” An intentional community is fairly simple to both explain and understand, however it is an entirely different task to actually live it out. I have friends that actually live out this in their own homes. Relevant Magazine posted a recent article title, “I Live With Another Man’s Wife.” This is something that Brooke and I have never really had much exposure to until Ecclesia. Once I actually began to look at it though and understand more about this concept, I realized that this is exactly what [lcf] does as a college church.
As a community that is made up of entirely college students that live in homes, dorms, apartments, and lofts together, this idea is lived out many times without even realizing it. The thought of living with other married couples or families seems completely foreign to me and probably most people out there. The thought of living with friends while in school or until the next “milestone” in your comes along seems rather logical, even encouraged in most cases. When you live with people on a day to day basis you begin to see the good, bad, and ugly. The great part about this is that it strips away the masks we so often love to wear around people and instead forces us to be transparent (sooner or later). There are students in the [lcf] community that plan their housing with each other because they have become such close friends. Some students have great friendships outside of the [lcf] community and choose to live with them instead. There is no right or wrong answer to this, however it is important that we understand this is a huge opportunity.
As a community that is made up of broken and messed up people, this may not be so pretty up close. We have been taught so often in Christianity that in order to “go to church” you have to have all your junk together. Where this idea came from is beyond me, and in fact I would submit to you that it is simply not biblical. Some of the most exciting and inspiring scripture I have read have to do with people doing life together.
Acts 2.42-47
42They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.43Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.44And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;45and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.46Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,47praising God and having favor with all the people And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
The picture painted of the early church was one of unity and selfless community. It seems as though the Christ followers were less interested in their personal lives, their “life purpose”, their dreams and hopes, their careers, and their wants. Their focus was completely around the community at large and how they were going to change the world together.
One of the biggest struggles in the Church today is this idea of being an individual. The gospel is centered around one individual and it is not me, you, or anyone else. The moment we begin to be the church and live our lives in communities that are being intentional about relationships both inside and outside of the gatherings, we will see the world change. One of the most beautiful things about a bunch of broken people is that when they come together and work as one, they make a beautiful mosaic. It is in our brokenness that God is made famous and it is in our intentional communities when the Church actually begins to imitate Christ.
May we live our lives intentionally. Whether we choose to do this in the same home, same neighborhood, or same city, we can choose to be intentional with those around us. May we spur our church communities to be intentional both inside and outside of our gatherings and actually begin to do life with each other. How powerful would the Church be if we lived in such a way?
- Philip Watkins
