Separation of Church and Neighborhood

Did you know that the unchurched population of the United States is the largest mission field in the English-speaking world and the fifth largest globally?  There seems to be a major separation between local churches and the neighborhoods they are meant to serve.  We are accustomed to speaking of the great commission, but it is the commandment that Jesus calls “great.”  The commission erupts out of the great commandment:  “Love the Lord your God with all the heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  God has given us no greater commandments than these.  Fulfilling these commands demands connecting and establishing relationships that are genuine and authentic.  When the church closes itself off to the outside world, the result is an institution rather than a movement.

The church today is not listening to the millions of desperate, but unrecognized, cries for help.  It’s as though the Christian community is not listening.  To live out the “great commandment,” we must live out our faith among our neighbors.  Who’s your neighbor?  Whoever crosses your path.  To live out our faith is to genuinely care for others—especially those far from God.  It’s not to preach to them—it’s to simply love them in the midst of their circumstances.  It’s not to judge them—it’s to extend God’s grace and be reminded that, but for the grace of God, there go I.  To love others is to see them through God’s eyes.  There’s an old saying:  “You’ve never locked eyes with another human being who isn’t loved and valued by God.” 

The measure of our spiritual health must be considered against how we treat the lost and broken of this world.  Jesus viewed a person’s claim to love God by their love for others.  This is true of us as individuals but also as communities of faith.  Jesus established his church to serve the surrounding community. Wherever a local church is established, it should be to serve as a mission outpost to meet the needs of that community, to make it better, to enrich people’s lives, and to model the love of Christ. 

For the church to separate itself from its community is to commit spiritual suicide.  There’s no life where new life isn’t being realized.  The church’s mission is great.  It is to go and share our faith and hope with as many people as possible, and this is best done when we live out the “great commandment” to love others.  Jesus Christ was not sacrificed for the sins of the church.  He was sacrificed for the sins of the world.  The church is God’s mechanism to convey that message of hope.  If there is any hope of sharing this message with a community desperately looking for answers, the church needs to learn to sacrifice for its community.  We cannot separate ourselves from our community.  Let’s get into our community and shine the light of Christ. 

Learn more at www.newlifeonline.com or follow Steve Lingenfelter on Twitter, @stevOLL. 

*reprinted from the Peoria Times