The community of the Saints: Here & Now or There & Then ?

When we talk about the community of the Saints, we very often think of the fellowship we’ll have with our brothers and sisters after His return. Or we think of those that have gone before us.

But is that true ? Does that community only apply to the next age ? Or does it apply to the here and now ?

As some of you may know, we went through another rough patch in our house. Things are going better now, a lot better. We’re not out of the weeds yet, but our daughter is at long last home and out of the hospital.

During these difficult last three weeks, we were supported by many. Many who called to inquire how things were going. Many who brought food while we were sitting in the ICU waiting areas. And many more that took time out of their busy schedules to pray, text, email and facebook us with encouragement. As a matter of fact, we had so many offers to bring food and come and help, that we actually had to decline some !

I was quite amazed at this outpouring of love, care and concern for us. And then I started to wonder “Why ? What makes people do this ? What have we done to deserve this ?”. And as I went through the list of people that supported us, I came to the realization that all of them were our Christian friends. Friends from our Christian community and fellowship. Brothers and sisters in Christ. And they were acting with grace and love and care. And then I had to be reminded that there is nothing we can do to deserve grace. Grace is freely bestowed upon us by God. And as we live out the life He is calling us to and as the Spirit works in us, we in return bestow grace upon those around us. That’s what we experienced first-hand. The love and grace of God, poured out over us through the community of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

In his epistle to the Romans, Paul calls those brothers and sisters in Christ

“Loved by God and called to be saints”
(Rom 1:7)

A full word study on the word “saints” would be too long for this entry, but from his letters to the Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, etc.. Paul clearly calls those who have fellowship in Christ the “saints”. Hence, I think I’m safe to call those that brought us comfort in the last several weeks similarly. This small community of saints. Alive and well, right here, right now. Taking care of us, their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. If that’s not a living, breathing, caring, supporting community of the saints right here and now, I can’t think of a better example of one. And we can’t express our gratitude enough.

As Bonhoeffer once said

“The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer”
(Life Together)

So find a Christian community. Find a fellowship. Get engaged, get involved, get vulnerable. And be amazed at the living community of the saints.