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Living in Community

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Adullam

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Do any here see the benefit of being gathered together in Christian community for the sake of a living testimony? This could be living together in a big house....or buying property near one another to share a community life.

Any thoughts?
 
Adullam said:
Do any here see the benefit of being gathered together in Christian community for the sake of a living testimony? This could be living together in a big house....or buying property near one another to share a community life.

Any thoughts?
Adullam,

Consider the way that Jesus led the disciples before the cross, during his entombment and after the cross for the 40 day period and then eventually what happened to them.

If you are young then I sympathize with your felt need.

Joe
 
Hi Joe,

Are you refering to the closeness of their fellowship?

BTW, I am 50 and have previously lived in community. :)

John
 
I have never desired to, but I have a sense that we live in one already because our family, as well as the believers that we have been blessed to know, have grown into one. Many of us live on farms, and some in towns, but we all have an amazing God-given network that seems like a miracle. I think that home education has been a common thread, but then God took it even further because many are single, widowed, or couples without children. Naturally raised foods has also been a link to one another. Our 'community' spans hours, and yet there is a closeness through our common love of Christ and a common desire to obey His Word. We are dependant on one another for our births, our food, our study materials, our work-force, our resources, but then we all attend different chapels and are even of different denominations...if we have them. We all seem to know, or know of, one another, and we continually share in one another's hospitality, needs, and joys. I have lived here all of my life, and this 'community' was not always here, but I have watched it come together without the plans of men in the last 12 years. I also see many parts of the body represented, and have watched as people lovingly share their gifts to edify the body. I know this isn't what you meant, but I am always amazed when I think about how we are living in community with one another, even though we didn't intend it.

The Lord bless you.
 
lovely said:
I have never desired to, but I have a sense that we live in one already because our family, as well as the believers that we have been blessed to know, have grown into one. Many of us live on farms, and some in towns, but we all have an amazing God-given network that seems like a miracle. I think that home education has been a common thread, but then God took it even further because many are single, widowed, or couples without children. Naturally raised foods has also been a link to one another. Our 'community' spans hours, and yet there is a closeness through our common love of Christ and a common desire to obey His Word. We are dependant on one another for our births, our food, our study materials, our work-force, our resources, but then we all attend different chapels and are even of different denominations...if we have them. We all seem to know, or know of, one another, and we continually share in one another's hospitality, needs, and joys. I have lived here all of my life, and this 'community' was not always here, but I have watched it come together without the plans of men in the last 12 years. I also see many parts of the body represented, and have watched as people lovingly share their gifts to edify the body. I know this isn't what you meant, but I am always amazed when I think about how we are living in community with one another, even though we didn't intend it.

The Lord bless you.

Amen! Christian community begins in the heart. It sounds like you have a very good network! It is good to see that all the brethren are cared for. Single men living together, single women living together...all Christians helping each other, caring for one another. That is the church functioning as it should. :)
 
I've had others living with me and lived with other people, and I don't like it. I'm too much of a loner, and people are too different with too many disagreements. I like it hot indoors and can't tolerate the cold at all, and I have never lived with anyone who agreed. Also, I'm a night owl and don't like mornings. I'm up long after midnight and stay in bed most, if not all, of the morning, while everyone is up and making intolerable noise. I sleep with earplugs because of the noise going on outside, and I don't want noise inside when I'm in bed. Some people like communal living, but it's not for me.
 
Jon-Marc said:
I've had others living with me and lived with other people, and I don't like it. I'm too much of a loner, and people are too different with too many disagreements. I like it hot indoors and can't tolerate the cold at all, and I have never lived with anyone who agreed. Also, I'm a night owl and don't like mornings. I'm up long after midnight and stay in bed most, if not all, of the morning, while everyone is up and making intolerable noise. I sleep with earplugs because of the noise going on outside, and I don't want noise inside when I'm in bed. Some people like communal living, but it's not for me.

Man, it's boiling in here....oh, hi Jon-Marc! ;)
 
For me, community is a divine set up, fellowship (and whatever)that just comes together naturally, nothing planned or birthed by man. As far as different families deciding to live under the same roof for the sake of community, nooooo...that makes me a little leery.
I could see something like that in a depression or out of necessity, but I think families should live physically seperate otherwise.
 
destiny said:
For me, community is a divine set up, fellowship (and whatever)that just comes together naturally, nothing planned or birthed by man. As far as different families deciding to live under the same roof for the sake of community, nooooo...that makes me a little leery.
I could see something like that in a depression or out of necessity, but I think families should live physically seperate otherwise.

I totally agree with you. We must simply be always willing to do the Lord's pleasure.

Blessings in Christ,

John
 
Having lived (for two and a half months) in a communal situation, I don't like the lack of security. I had a small coin collection (some VERY old coins) that disappeared the same time one of the people left. I couldn't prove he took them, but I'm sure he did. I won't do that again.

If you choose to live in a communal situation, don't have any valuables that you don't keep with you at all times. Otherwise, lock them up where no one can get to them. I had no way to lock up the coins.
 
Jon-Marc said:
Having lived (for two and a half months) in a communal situation, I don't like the lack of security. I had a small coin collection (some VERY old coins) that disappeared the same time one of the people left. I couldn't prove he took them, but I'm sure he did. I won't do that again.

If you choose to live in a communal situation, don't have any valuables that you don't keep with you at all times. Otherwise, lock them up where no one can get to them. I had no way to lock up the coins.


What about what you gained through the experience? The opportunity to live with other Christians and experience some church life! :)
 
Jon-Marc said:
Adullam said:
Man, it's boiling in here....oh, hi Jon-Marc! ;)

I had one person describe my place as "steamy". I'm most comfortable when it's in the 80's--indoors and out.


You know you really ought to move to Flori....oh yeah! :) ;) :thumb
 
Adullam said:
Jon-Marc said:
Having lived (for two and a half months) in a communal situation, I don't like the lack of security. I had a small coin collection (some VERY old coins) that disappeared the same time one of the people left. I couldn't prove he took them, but I'm sure he did. I won't do that again.

If you choose to live in a communal situation, don't have any valuables that you don't keep with you at all times. Otherwise, lock them up where no one can get to them. I had no way to lock up the coins.


What about what you gained through the experience? The opportunity to live with other Christians and experience some church life! :)
That didn't sound like a church life experience I would want to be in. LOL
 
destiny said:
Adullam said:
Jon-Marc said:
Having lived (for two and a half months) in a communal situation, I don't like the lack of security. I had a small coin collection (some VERY old coins) that disappeared the same time one of the people left. I couldn't prove he took them, but I'm sure he did. I won't do that again.

If you choose to live in a communal situation, don't have any valuables that you don't keep with you at all times. Otherwise, lock them up where no one can get to them. I had no way to lock up the coins.


What about what you gained through the experience? The opportunity to live with other Christians and experience some church life! :)
That didn't sound like a church life experience I would want to be in. LOL

Perhaps the time spent in community was too short. It takes a few years to get down to the depths of the reward IMHO ;)
 
Adullam said:
What about what you gained through the experience? The opportunity to live with other Christians and experience some church life! :)

What I gained was a desire to continue living alone. You're assuming they were all Christians--including the one who stole my coin collection? How about the leader of the group who claimed that we were a church so that he could get tax exempt status on all his purchases--claiming it was all for a church? He tried to get me to do that, but I considered it dishonest since everything I bought was for my own personal use.

We never had group prayer meetings, preaching or Bible study there. Since I've been saved nearly 46 years and have spent much of that time working in churches, I think I've experienced a lot of church life.

Maybe I misunderstood the question (wouldn't be the first time), but I assumed this was about communal living. I've done that--just not with all the others being Christian.
 
Jon-Marc said:
Adullam said:
What about what you gained through the experience? The opportunity to live with other Christians and experience some church life! :)

What I gained was a desire to continue living alone. You're assuming they were all Christians--including the one who stole my coin collection? How about the leader of the group who claimed that we were a church so that he could get tax exempt status on all his purchases--claiming it was all for a church? He tried to get me to do that, but I considered it dishonest since everything I bought was for my own personal use.

We never had group prayer meetings, preaching or Bible study there. Since I've been saved nearly 46 years and have spent much of that time working in churches, I think I've experienced a lot of church life.

Maybe I misunderstood the question (wouldn't be the first time), but I assumed this was about communal living. I've done that--just not with all the others being Christian.

OK. I guess I assumed you were living with other Christians, it being a Christian forum and all. My bad! One must be careful who one hooks up to be sure!

Maybe I should have framed it as....

Has anyone lived in Christian community???
 
The Lord scattered his believers, his body, his family of priests.

Plants do not bear fruit or bear fruit poorly when they are planted thickly.

The community of the spirit of Christ is the community to seek for our fellowship.

Old age has come upon me and I am speaking out of the years of some involvement and observing others who have been involved in material forms of community.

Beware physical security. It is a wine that mocks. It is a deceiver.

Heb 13:12-13
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. KJV

Joe
 
I agree with you, Joe. We are more affective when we are scattered about, being salt and light to those on the "outside". I've seen the fruit of staying "congregated" within Christian groups and it wasn't a pretty or effective sight.

Luke 17:20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation;
Luke 17:21 neither will they say, 'Look here!' or 'Look, there it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is among you."
 
These are interesting observations as I've experienced the very opposite. The Christian life is a corporate one as well as being a personal one. They will know us by the love we have for one another.

The Italians, the Jews and the Chinese (as examples) all live in their own communities. Why shouldn't the Christians concentrate their life? :)
 
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