Pioneer Christian Monthly - September, 1991

A Caring Community
Winnifred M. Bridges

I recently returned from a short trip to Great Britain where once again I was struck by the magnificence of the architecture of the churches. However, as I also attended services I was sadly aware of the lack of Christian warmth within those magnificent churches. All the fine carving and moulding and gilding does nothing to bring the love of Christ to people.

In the Reformed Church we are deeply concerned about the authority of the Bible and sound Biblical theology. Coming from the background of 34 years as a minister of the United Church of Canada, I must say that I applaud this concern. It is one which is needed and which must be protected very carefully. Never let the Reformed Church stray from the authority of God's Word and the faithful interpretation of it!

As deeply impressed as I am by this, there is something else I have experienced which is tremendously important - a genuine caring for individuals as God's children. I have found Christian love at the level of the congregation and Classis, and have also found it in other areas of our denomination where my contacts have largely been by telephone. That caring attitude comes through even over the long distance lines.

We are living in a hurting world in all aspects of life. Personal relationships are so often weak and destructive. So many people have lost a knowledge of God and as a result any sense of their self-worth. This has led to a multitude of problems - drugs, alcohol, mental illness, destruction of people and property, and many more. People feel isolated and alone. Family fife is being eroded by society and government. Moral values have been tossed aside. We five in houses - not homes - too much of the time. God has no part in life, and any thought or mention of Jesus Christ has been removed from our schools. Too many people have been hurt and let down by the church of which they have been a part for years.

One place that can provide an antidote for this is a caring Christian community where the love of Jesus Christ is felt in the very atmosphere as well as in the words spoken. People need to experience the gospel of Jesus Christ being expressed in life. They need to find love in action through genuine caring and support. They need to encounter others who are interested and concerned about them - people who are genuinely friendly and give agape expression in life.

My experience has been that this type of support is found in the RCC. Unfortunately, this is not everyone's experience. It concerns me to hear of unfriendly churches and congregations within our denomination. More than once I have heard of those who have visited a church without hearing one word of welcome (except for the formal words of the Pastor in announcements). It deeply concerns me that this should happen. In the fight of my own experience I find it hard to believe that someone could come to worship and have no one speak to them. But I know it is true. It does happen.

Emmaus Church in Peterborough is a very small congregation at this point. I pray that as we grow we will not lose the spirit that is present. There is a very warm, caring fellowship whose initial point of contact was solely Sunday morning worship. During coffee and conversation you don't find the same little groups week after week. Instead they get into smaller groups which are always changing. Sometimes a deep conversation causes them to remain together for a longer time. Anyone new to the service is immediately a part of it. This whole atmosphere is one which must retain.

I don't have any answers on bow to retain or to develop a genuinely caring community. I wish I had. My thinking on it, however, leads me to a few conclusions. One thing which is often recommended for a healthy congregation is the development of small groups of eight or ten persons who have a close contact through regular home Bible study. Personally, I am somewhat fearful of such groups unless there is a regular and fairly frequent change in the personnel. Too often they become introspective and when they are involved in a larger group fail to reach out and include others. Most times newcomers find it impossible to become part of the established small groups.

Certainly visitation programs don't develop a caring community. Of necessity they are too structured. Again new people are not included and someone coming to worship for the first or second time would not experience any benefit. It would seem that the only way to achieve a caring and welcoming fellowship is by strengthening commitment to Jesus Christ and His way; to constantly promote true Christian love. Let love be genuine (Rom. 12:9). Pastor and consistory must always keep this before them in preaching, planning and relationships; and must also promote it amongst the entire congregation constantly. We must be understanding, have a sense of humour, appreciate people who are different and be aware of the needs and aspirations of people. We must also be flexible, not rigid in our ways but open to suggestions and changes.

The gospel of Jesus Christ and the grace of God must be lifted up constantly, not just from the pulpit, but in all spheres of congregational life. Each and every person in the congregation must exemplify Christian love. There must be joy and happiness in the life of the church. Every one of us must strive to express our faith in Jesus Christ by our actions, the way we live, and how we relate to others. The church is the body of Christ, all members of that body must work together to make the body strong. A properly functioning body is a caring community in Christ.

May the day come when no one will enter a Reformed Church and not experience the warmth of the Christian spirit and the love of Christ as soon as they are inside the door. May they always find a caring community.

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