Sep
6
2012

The Joy of Physical Community

An article by Matt

Yesterday afternoon I had the chance to break bread with three ministry leaders in the New York City area. Over the course of a couple of hours we caught up, heard what was going on in one another’s life, and the challenges that they were facing. As the conversation progressed, we discussed the communities that we are a part of, and who we have speaking into our lives. At one point, I mentioned that I have a bunch of people speaking into my life… but many of them are doing it virtually.

Human connectedness has changed radically over the past decade. Face to face communication has been replaced by Facebook communication, and it has become far easier to do relationships virtually. While in many ways these changes are good things, we still have a deep soul need to be in physical community with one another. Though I am connected to thousands of people on Twitter and Facebook, it is the time spent together with the brothers I broke bread with yesterday, my Tuesday morning men’s group, or our community group that I truly cherish, and yearn for.

While it is easy to read the last two paragraphs and nod our heads, affirming the wonders of physical community, the truth is that it is very easy to make it a “to-do list item” that is always sitting out there. In the crush of life, it is easy to find valid reasons why we are unable to pursue these kinds of relationships. Whether it is because the kids just went back to school, work has been especially difficult, or we are just plain over committed, the natural flow of life is away from these kinds of relationships. Rather than remind you of passages of scripture that encourage us to do life in community, might I just encourage you, today, to be intentional about seeking out regular, physical, community?

When was the last time YOU experienced true physical community?

About the Author: Matt Steen

Over the last fifteen years I have been a Church Planter, Youth Pastor, Executive Pastor, and now I serve as a Church Concierge with churchsimple.net. I love Jesus, my wife, the Redskins and Capitals and am currently living on Long Island striving to properly pronounce the word G'island.