Day 12 | Community As Protection

This past Sunday, I remember hearing Pastor Brett (aka Sarge) say that he has this predominant need to be around people. As I heard that, I remembered thinking to myself, “I am on the complete opposite side of that spectrum!” Now I am not anti-social. I love being around people, but like a typical introvert, I have to balance that time with significant time alone.
Even as a kid, I was totally content playing by myself. I would spend hours outside all alone, accompanied by only my imagination. As I have grown older, that playtime was replaced by various outdoor activities. But one constant remains, I need significant time alone.
However, being an introverted pastor has always created tension for me in Christian circles, especially when the discussion of faith-based community would arise. You see, I know it is important. I see the value in it. I can even make a compelling biblical and practical argument for it. But I must confess, community has never been a huge need or priority for me personally. It’s just not my natural bent. So for years, I have wrestled with this topic until I discovered this one important benefit of living in Christ-centered community … protection!
When you look at the animal kingdom, the different names for groups of animals are fascinating. We are all familiar with terms like “flocks” or “herds”, but there are many different names used for animals. For instance, a group of lions is called a “pride”. A group of whales is called a “pod”. A group of crows is called a “murder”. A group of rhinos is called a “crash”. And my favorite … a group of buzzards is called a “committee”. But with all the different names, one of the primary reasons animals live in groups is for protection against predators.
1 Peter 5:8 tells us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Whatever you choose to call a group of Christians, one of the main reasons why we were never meant to go through life alone is for our protection. Predators know that if they can isolate an individual from the group, then it is just a matter of time before that individual falls victim. In the same way, when we are isolated from the body of Christ, we become vulnerable to the enemy.
Although living in community is not my natural bent, I realize that I need people in my life that I know and trust. People who love me and who first and foremost love God. People who have permission to speak into my life when they see a concern. People who can point out my blind spots or weaknesses. They do this not out of spite, but to protect me from bad decisions, destructive behaviors, or harmful habits. I have a community of people who want what is best for me, and who want to see me moving in the right direction. Those people are incredibly valuable and necessary to me.
James 5:19-20 says, “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
Galatians 6:1-2 says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Do you find yourself alone? Are you spiritually vulnerable? Are there people in your life who know you, love you, and love God? Finally, have you given those people permission to speak into your life? If not, search it out! Don’t give up until you have that Christ-centered community. It will be vital to your life, as it is mine.
Pastor Greg
Even as a kid, I was totally content playing by myself. I would spend hours outside all alone, accompanied by only my imagination. As I have grown older, that playtime was replaced by various outdoor activities. But one constant remains, I need significant time alone.
However, being an introverted pastor has always created tension for me in Christian circles, especially when the discussion of faith-based community would arise. You see, I know it is important. I see the value in it. I can even make a compelling biblical and practical argument for it. But I must confess, community has never been a huge need or priority for me personally. It’s just not my natural bent. So for years, I have wrestled with this topic until I discovered this one important benefit of living in Christ-centered community … protection!
When you look at the animal kingdom, the different names for groups of animals are fascinating. We are all familiar with terms like “flocks” or “herds”, but there are many different names used for animals. For instance, a group of lions is called a “pride”. A group of whales is called a “pod”. A group of crows is called a “murder”. A group of rhinos is called a “crash”. And my favorite … a group of buzzards is called a “committee”. But with all the different names, one of the primary reasons animals live in groups is for protection against predators.
1 Peter 5:8 tells us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Whatever you choose to call a group of Christians, one of the main reasons why we were never meant to go through life alone is for our protection. Predators know that if they can isolate an individual from the group, then it is just a matter of time before that individual falls victim. In the same way, when we are isolated from the body of Christ, we become vulnerable to the enemy.
Although living in community is not my natural bent, I realize that I need people in my life that I know and trust. People who love me and who first and foremost love God. People who have permission to speak into my life when they see a concern. People who can point out my blind spots or weaknesses. They do this not out of spite, but to protect me from bad decisions, destructive behaviors, or harmful habits. I have a community of people who want what is best for me, and who want to see me moving in the right direction. Those people are incredibly valuable and necessary to me.
James 5:19-20 says, “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
Galatians 6:1-2 says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Do you find yourself alone? Are you spiritually vulnerable? Are there people in your life who know you, love you, and love God? Finally, have you given those people permission to speak into your life? If not, search it out! Don’t give up until you have that Christ-centered community. It will be vital to your life, as it is mine.
Pastor Greg
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Archive
2023
January
Don’t Waste Your Year | Week of January 1stFasting and Prayer ResourcesWhen You Feel Like You Need A Comeback | Week of January 8thFamily Resources | Week of January 8th21 Days of Prayer & FastingFamily Resources | Week of January 15thHow Is My Appetite? | Hungry | Week 1Day 1 | Hunger Produces ActionDay 2 | Praising God For His MovementDay 3 | Revealing With Dulls My AppetiteDay 4 | Delighting In The LordDay 5 | Constant Access To Living WaterDay 6 | Approaching God Without FearDay 7 | Enlarging Your Capacity For LoveFamily Resources | Week of January 22ndHungry To Love And Be Loved | Hungry | Week 2Day 8 | Contagious CommunityDay 9 | Designed With Desire And Need For CommunityDay 10 | Unity Is Not An Optional StrategyDay 11 | Desiring For Our Neighbor's GoodDay 12 | Community As ProtectionDay 13 | Many AdvisorsHungry To Make A Difference | Hungry | Week 3Family Resources | Week of January 29thDay 14 | Where Do You Take Your Watering Can?Day 15 | Created To Make A DifferenceDay 16 | To Cultivate And Keep It
February
Day 17 | Good WorksDay 18 | A Community Of Civic BenefactionDay 19 | Vision and DirectionDay 20 | Divine PotentialLaws of Attraction | Song of Solomon | Week 1Family Resources | Week of February 5thDay 21 | Koinonia ContributionDating | Song of Solomon | Week of Sunday, February 12thFamily Resources | Week of February 12thSexual Intimacy | Song of Solomon | Week 3Family Resources | Week of February 19thFighting Fair | Song of Solomon | Week 4Family Resources | Week of February 26th
March
Making Love Last | Song of Solomon | Week 5Family Resources | Week of March 5thThe Kingdom: This Is What You Want | Week of March 12thFamily Resources | Week of March 12thJesus Shows Us What Real Love Is | Why Did Jesus Die? | Week 1Family Resources | Week of March 19thJesus Died To Set Us Free | Why Did Jesus Die? | Week 2Family Resources | Week of March 26th
April
Family Resources | Week of April 2ndJesus Died To Take Our Place | Why Did Jesus Die? | Week 3Family Resources | Week of April 9thWhy Did Jesus Die and Rise Again? | Why Did Jesus Die? | Week 4Family Resources | Week of April 16thMercy For Those Who Doubt | Reasonable Doubt | Week OneFamily Resources | Week of April 23rdCan Science and Christianity Coexist? | Reasonable Doubt | Week 2Family Resources | Week of April 30thSometimes I Doubt Because of Christian Hypocrites | Reasonable Doubt | Week 3
May
Emotions, Impossible Questions, and Doubts | Reasonable Doubt | Week 4Family Resources | Week of May 7thGod Loves It | Week of May 14thFamily Resources | Week of May 14thCan Worry Increase Your Life? | Questions Jesus Asked | Week 1Family Resources | Week of May 21stHow Can We Be Made Salty Again? | Questions Jesus Asked | Week 2Family Resources | Week of May 28th
June
Why Are You Asleep? | Questions Jesus Asked | Week 3Family Resources | Week of June 4Do You Want To Be Made Well? | Questions Jesus Asked | Week 4Family Resources | Week of June 11Do You Believe I Am Able To Do This? | Questions Jesus Asked | Week 5Family Resources | Week of June 18Why Are You So Afraid? | Questions Jesus Asked | Week 6Family Resources | Week of June 25
July
Sabbath Keepers | Questions Jesus Asked | Week 7Family Resources | Week of July 2Who Touched Me? | Questions Jesus Asked | Week 8Family Resources | Week of July 9How Many Loaves Do You Have? | Questions Jesus Asked | Week 9Family Resources | Week of July 16What If I Want John To Live Forever? | Questions Jesus Asked | Week 10Family Resources | Week of July 23What Can Anyone Give In Exchange For Their Soul? | Questions Jesus Asked | Week 11Family Resources | Week of July 30
August
Family Resources | Week of August 6Expectation Deficit Disorder | Immeasurably More | Week 1Day 1 | Monday, August 7th | Immeasurably More: God-Sized VisionDay 2 | Wednesday, August 9th | Immeasurably More: The ExamenDay 3 | Friday, August 11th | Immeasurably More: KnockImmeasurably More For Your Family | Immeasurably More | Week 2Family Resources | Week of August 13Day 4 | Monday, August 14th | Immeasurably More: Eternal PrioritiesDay 5 | Wednesday, August 16th | The Deep Stillness of MorningDay 6 | Friday, August 18th | Family TraditionsImmeasurably More In Our Church | Immeasurably More | Week 3Family Resources | Week of August 20Day 7 | Monday, August 21st | Pray, Bless, and Do GoodDay 8 | Wednesday, August 23rd | How to Know if You've Really Been to ChurchDay 9 | Friday, August 25th | Praying Big, Bold, Specific PrayersImmeasurably More In Our Friendships | Immeasurably More | Week 4
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