Christian Community Revisited

"As Christians, we are often filled (and thus blinded) with a sense of our own goodness, such that, genuine community remains elusive. Self-righteousness and self-sufficiency disables our love to others and painfully robs us of any sense of community. Christian brothers fight and are envious (James 4:1-10) because we easily forget that it is the grace and mercy of God in Christ alone that we are what we are. Oh, if those of us who confessed Christ were humbled under the corruption of our own hearts, how merciful, how tender and how charitable we would be to others. We would forbear and forgive, not censuring or striving but would be eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. If we would simply gain a better understanding of the sinfulness of our own hearts and it’s bent on evil in light of God’s majesty, we would trust less in our own judgments. If we spent more time digesting the truth that God, not because of some potential He saw in us, but in spite of ourselves, chose us for no other reason than His love alone, it would begin to enlarge our hearts and lead to compassion toward others because we would see them, not from above, but as broken, sinful people, just as we are. Although modern psychology seems to be obsessed with our self-esteem, the fact is that when we think we are good compared to others we become self-centered and grow increasingly difficult to live with. Too much self-love is actually community-destroying behavior. The better we think we are, the smaller our heart becomes. But Christ would have us “do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than [our]selves; … not merely look[ing] out for [our] own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”(Phil 2) If we would but continually place before ourselves our own desperate spiritual need who owes a debt that only Jesus can repay, we would start to be more willing to move out toward others with encouragement, patience and a helping hand."

J.W. Hendryx

You can read more of his thoughts in his article
The Predestinating Love of Christ: A Foundation of Christian Community

at Monergism.

Hopefully you will enjoy it.

RC