So you are no longer outsiders or aliens, but fellow citizens with every other Christian—you belong now to the household of God. Firmly beneath you in the foundation, God’s messengers and prophets, the actual foundation-stone being Jesus Christ himself. In Him each separate piece of building, properly fitting into its neighbour, grows together into a temple consecrated to God. You are all part of this building in which God himself lives by his spirit.

Ephesians 2:19-22 (J.B. Phillips New Testament)

 

Many of us have been struggling to find our place within the church community. We often feel insignificant, small, and unimportant, and we sometimes wonder if we make any difference at all.

These misguided expectations come from a performance attitude that causes us to strive to be someone we are not in Christ. Then we become dismissive of ourselves and may also deflect our shortcomings to others.

Christ makes it possible for us to be intimately and spiritually connected to God and with each other. We are no longer outsiders or outcasts but rather we are fellow citizens with God’s covenant people and family members of God’s household. This is not a goal to be attained, but rather a reality that awaits our discovery. And Christ will empower us to build a strong and healthy community when we choose to live out this reality with one another.

The Apostle Paul tells us that God has brought us together to become a community committed to becoming more like Christ. As Christ individually grows us according to His will and word, we will corporately grow to be like Him. However, if we allow selfish individuality and self-interest to undermine the significance of being part of a community, we will lose the purpose and value of being members of Christ's body.

Community is something made individually by each person.

No church is perfect, because we are not perfect. However, when we look at our church through the lens of the gospel, it changes our perspective. Learn to see the church as Christ sees it, and you will be able to appreciate the beauty of God's people coming together. Instead of finding fault with each other, we are called by Christ to celebrate each other. Always seek Christ's will for the individuals He has placed in your life, and He will fit you into His plan for them. Look for ways in which you can do for them what Christ has done for you, edifying their faith and encouraging them to stand strong in difficult times. By working together, we can elevate each other to a better place both spiritually and relationally.