Biblically Healthy Community

---

Biblically Healthy Community

Biblical Mandates

The text of the Bible teaches we are to love one another (see, e.g., John 14:15-17,21,23-24; 13:34-35; 1 John 4:7). However, few understand the Biblical definition of “love.” It does not mean we have to “like” everyone, or become close friends, or have to agree on everyone’s interpretation of the text. It does mean we should respect the right of others to their current understandings.

The Biblical concept of love includes:

· Helping each other reach the common goal of conformity with Yeshua’s teachings and His examples.

· Being available for one another – sharing the load, burdens, joys, and sorrows of daily life.

· The mutual goal of unity of purpose, not uniformity (1 Cor. 12).

· Giving of our time, energies, giftings, and skills for each other and the community.

· Recognizing that study and dialog are essential components in pursuit of truth.

· Recognizing that through life-to-life interaction each of us is matured in our faith and walk.

· Bearing each other’s burdens in love fulfills the Torah of Messiah.

· Learning to love each other is a significant part of the sanctification process for each believer.

· Willingness to pursue a Biblical approach in governing decisions within the community.

· Loving one another (Biblically) is mutual pursuit of faithfulness and encouragement within a covenantal framework (See, e.g., 1 Cor 13; Lev. 19:18; John 14:5, 15:12; 1 John 3:16, 18; and 4:7, 12-13, 21).

“One another” passages include: Rom. 12:15-18, 13:8-10, 14:19; Eph. 4:1-3; 1 Thes. 5:11; James 2:8-9. These embrace the necessity of a community setting.

The Bible also instructs us in proper protocols for approaching our Creator. Observation of these protocols reflects a healthy covenantal relationship with our Maker, and thus becomes a model for healthy interpersonal relationships with our fellow brothers and sisters in Messiah. With proper protocols in place and regularly practiced, reconciliation and restoration of relationships can occur when differences arise.

Physical and Spiritual Components

All humans are born with both physical and spiritual components. The physical aspect we can readily relate to. However, the spiritual component is much more difficult to grasp. One way to visualize our spiritual being is to think of it as a “compartment” within our being, created by Elohim, and therefore shaped such that only the Spirit of Elohim will fit within it. But we each hold the key to this “compartment,” and the Holy Spirit will not enter in unless we invite the Spirit in by unlocking the door, which is done through a heart decision of willingness to submit to His Spirit. Because the only entity that will fit in our spiritual “compartment” is the One true Spirit of Elohim, we cannot manufacture a substitute on our own. If we attempt to do this, either consciously or subconsciously, the only person we fool is our self.

Self-induced spirituality most often manifests as humans seeking a spiritual experience (too often drummed up for self-serving purposes). Instead, we should see ourselves as spiritual entities seeking human experiences. In the case of the former scenario, the Holy Spirit’s moving gets pushed aside, and loving relationships, which are required to build healthy communities, are torn down. In the latter scenario, the Holy Spirit is present and allowed to lead, resulting in pushing self aside, whereby loving relationships grow and become the building blocks of a healthy community. Spiritually and emotionally healthy individuals build healthy families, and healthy families are the building blocks of a healthy community. Our goal should be to live out Elohim’s instructions within the community setting, as Elohim intended.

Jewish Community as a Model

Judaism is less about believing and more about belonging to a community. It is less about what they owe Elohim, and more about what they owe each other as community members. They believe Elohim cares more about how they treat their fellow Jews than about theology, belief and creeds. Thus, it is within the community setting where Jews learn to be human as Elohim intended, by striving to act in his image. Accordingly, Judaism stresses ethics and loving compassion within the confines of a community setting – the training ground – such that the all-important goal of “repairing” the world through example can be played out (see, e.g., Deut. 4:5-6).

The Jewish concept of Elohim is largely an idealized vision of how an authentic human being, fashioned in Elohim’s image, would behave. Judaism attempts to answer the question: “When, or where, is Elohim?” That is to say, what has to be happening around and through them in order to for others to recognize the presence of Elohim?

Do’s and Don’ts for Promoting a Healthy Community

1. Be a giver, not a taker.

2. Think community first, others next, and yourself last.

3. Be a part of community building, not a part of community destruction (i.e., be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem).

4. Recognize we are each a work in progress, at differing stages. We each receive, and wrestle with, the revelation of our Hebraic roots at different times, and in different ways.

5. Be humble, and not right for right’s sake. No one has all the answers.

6. Value your brother or sister in Messiah for what you can mutually learn together, and then practice hand-in-hand, to become more Messiah like. We need each other to mature in our walk. Realize differing perspectives can actually be healthy in a learning environment. They nurture growth – so long as they are dealt with correctly.

7. A healthy community is a training ground, not simply a social gathering, and not a forum to impress others.

8. Be committed and sincere in your walk, not simply partially engaged.

9. Be prideless in what you know, not prideful of what you know. Remember: understanding and wisdom are required for life application of Elohim’s instructions.

10. Knowledge without understanding is at best dangerous, at worst it can become a cancer within a community setting.

11. Seek understanding for wisdom, not knowledge for power.

12. Be respectful of others, and considerate, merciful, compassionate, edifying, forgiving, caring and humble.

13. Be loving towards others, not lording over others (Remember 1 Cor. 13).

14. Be aware at times we all make mistakes, or miss-speak, or miss-judge, or offend others. Be prepared and open for the Holy Spirit to correct you, and to repent and do teshuva.

15. Be aware that wounded, damaged or hurting people often tend to wound, damage or hurt other people. Satan often uses the wounded as vessels for his deceptions and evil intentions. We must be sensitive, loving and compassionate, but cautious that we don’t get pulled down, either individually or corporately.

16. Remember that the enemy (Satan) hates Biblical community, and will do anything or use anyone to destroy it.

17. Don’t engage in L’shon Harah (the evil tongue), and be conscious of anyone who attempts to engage you in it.

18. Look around and be sensitive to what needs to be done to work together as community. Pitch in and help, for example, with set-up and clean-up.

19. Realize we can only change ourselves. Whereas, the Holy Spirit can change us all, but it will be in His timing and manner, and done with infinitely more wisdom than we possess.

20. Informed study of the Scriptures is a wonderful and fulfilling pursuit for gaining revelation of the deeper truths Elohim desires for us to see in his Word. However, there is an inherent danger in the wonderment yand enthusiasm of learning these deeper truths – Pride. And pride of course is a sin, as Scripture clearly informs us.

In Conclusion

Prayerfully ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you desire to be a part of a healthy community, grounded in Elohim’s Word?

2. Are you willing to commit to this community by contributing your part in building a healthy community?

3. Are you aware that from time-to-time we will be tested as a community; will we pass the testing?