Both/And-Community and Mission

Jesus' words in John 13:34-35 give us two distinct and yet interconnected purposes for the church. Jesus, speaking to his disciples and having just washed their feet, says "as I have loved so you should love one another..." There is a very real and distinct sense in which the church must be a deep, loving, supportive community to one another. If we turn to Act 2:41-47, we get some amazing glimpses of this live being lived out by the early church. Community is central to how Jesus envisioned the church.

Jesus, however, goes on to say in John 13, that "by this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another." Even the way believers are to love one another, our community, is meant to have an impact on those around us. We are meant to be a living, tangible expression of Kingdom principles and the love of the King. Our community can be a foretaste of the Kingdom, helping people to taste and see that the Lord is good, that we are different and there might be something that they are missing. Community is a part of our mission. Again, if we turn to Acts we will notice that this amazing community passage is bookended, or sandwiched between missional thoughts. Verse 41 speaks of many being added to their numbers following the preaching of Peter (they were also proclaiming). Chapter 2 then ends with the community having favour with all people and the Lord adding to their number every day. Community on mission and community as mission.

So, although community and mission are two important and distinct concepts, they also go hand in hand working together. To have one without the other is to be out of balance. To have both is to be in time with the rhythm Jesus intends for his people-Up (our relationship with The Lord, In (our relationship with other believers), and Out (our relationship with the world around us).