Building and Supporting a Community

What value and importance does buildinga community have for you? We all belong to a community. Perhaps the most simple of communities came about when you were born. This event came about at a high point of relationship between a man and a woman and, at a minimum, it resulted in you. Your most basic of communities may have changed. It may have been added to, redefined, or you have started building amost basic of communities on your own.

There are other communities that have been defined by relatives, the street or community that you live as part of, or it may be the school you have attended or the work that you o. Then there is the community which is the Body of Christ, the church. When you think of the church where does your mind go? Is it the congregation that you attend or do not attend any more? IS it the church accross the world with all of its different forms and flavors? Is it your denomination with all of its intricasies?

In the Gospel of Luke 5:17 to 26 we find a presentation on community. The setting is a village in Galilee. More specifically Jesus is in a synagogue on Sabbath worship. The place was full! Paying attention to what went on requires a minor discussion of Galillean architecture. The structure was one story in height. A staircase was likely found along the side of the building for it would be the practice of residents to go up on the roof during the heat of the day. During this particular event there would not likely be people up on the roof. All the action was in the synagogue.

Now here is where I invite you to pay utmost attention. As people poured into the synagogue the place was quickly filled. There are stories told about how churches would fill during the days of the 18th Century Welsh revival. As people poured into the church and filled the pews teh brave would climb up and sit on parallel rafters, and as they were filled additional worshippers would stand outside or close to the windows. Was this what was going on that day?

In another part of Galillee that day there was a man who was paralyzed and stuck in bed. Let me suggest to you that this man was feeling overwhelmed from the effects of his condition. Have you met anyone "frozen in place" like that? But this man had some good friends (perhaps 4) who went and got him out of bed and carried him to Jesus.

All around you there are people "frozen in place". They may not be physically paralyzed. They may be outside of community. These might be individuals who come and go from work and never go outside. Some may choose to be this way. Some may be shy and waiting for someone to say hello to them.

These were exceptional friends. They took it upon themselves to get involved in this man's life. They took it upon themselves to do the labor of bringing this man to Jesus. And when they got to the building and found it full they went and made a new way of getting this friend the help that they hoped he would receive.

I have always found it amusing to think about how they made an entry way for their friend. The roof involved a combination of dirt and tiles. First they would scrape away the dirt and then lift the tiles. As they moved the tiles debris fell in on top of those inside. Can you hear the ruckus of those inside as debris fell on their heads?

Building a community is never an easy process! You are going to be inconvenienced! You are going to "get your hands dirty". However these friends were more interested in their friends condition they they were worried about what may cause them difficulty.

The four friends lowered the man through the roof. Jesus healed him and forgave his sin. The man walked home, Changed!!

In our current society there are not many who are willing to be bothered with this much activity. But this is what the world needs. They need for you and I to build a community. To take the time to get dirty, bothered, and haev our schedules rearranged that the community - the Kingdom of God may grow.

So, What will you do?

Hear Him calling and go!

Pastor Al