Authentic Christian community is what Jesus died for. It is a community joined together in covenant, not contract relationships. This grace-filled society is not learned by osmosis, but by the crucible of common experience. Living together in “family” is not an easy matter as any mom and dad or sibling will confess. Yet, family is no less family when there is fighting, arguing, and misunderstanding. In fact, it is the mature character of a healthy family that promotes an unyielding bond when difficult circumstances are shared and lived through.
Salvation may be the moment of entrance into the family of God, but it is not just a personal one-time event; but the process of growing in Christ that involves the community of believers in no casual manner. It is only in relationship that we are challenged to be our best.[1] There is a multiplication of power when standing in agreement with others[2]. A true friend or family member will tell you the truth even when it is emotionally painful; an enemy will tell you only what is necessary to get what he or she wants[3]. Therefore, the Christian Community is based on biblical principle and relationships not a western worldview.
The western worldview is predicated on self-centeredness, personal rights and possessions. The biblical worldview is Christ-centered and others focused. In George Barna’s 2004 book, “Thinking Like Jesus” he cites statistics concluding that even in church there is very little biblical worldview. Seven percent (7%) of adult Protestants and nine percent (9%) of born again adults hold such a view. A biblical worldview for Barna is defined “as believing that absolute moral truth exists, that it is based upon the Bible, and having a biblical view on six core beliefs (the accuracy of biblical teaching, the sinless nature of Jesus, the literal existence of Satan, the omnipotence and omniscience of God, salvation by grace alone, and the personal responsibility to evangelize).” Furthermore, he states that only fifty-one percent (51%) of Protestant pastors hold a biblical worldview. And for those who attend a church where the pastor does have such a view only one out of seven hold the same view as the pastor.[4] The reculturization of the
