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Real Christian Community

by Honey Stone
07/06/18
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True Christian Community

It is within ‘real’ Christian community where you really grow. Of course there are fake Christian communities (cults and country clubs) and non-Christian communities (bars, sports teams, associations, and affinity groups).

There are church communities where most just show up to worship, listen to the preacher, and then take-off. That’s not real community. There’s a certain degree of depth with God but not necessarily with community.

A community is where you share your life and that includes both issues and celebrations. I have found that community is usually found within a ministry, but it isn’t simply ministry. It is where you have time to serve others, followed by a time of connecting with each other.

I was once on an altar team in a mega church for around three years or more. We got together monthly to learn about prayer and how to deal with intercessory issues. But we didn’t work as a team. Once we were trained we were out on our own with God. In other words, there wasn’t much human bonding.

I was also in a community group at that mega church and that was fruitful for a long time but it eventually fizzled out. I think it was because there was no mission.

In school (K-12) we were trained in a mode to make us good and solid assembly-line workers. Just follow the leader and do what we are told. Get good grades and you are guaranteed a good job. That was a workable mentality for making cars, but today we are in the age of technology and beyond. That structure doesn’t fly now because we need creativity and adaptability to both survive and thrive.  Yet, the schools are still teaching outdated systems. Some churches are as well.

I’ve read about the epidemic of Millennials who are discouraged after being told by public education to go to college to get a job. Now they can’t find a job that will allow them to financially float above their loan payments, housing, and the basics of living.

I am aware that colleges are whittling down to the generals. They are starting to only provide degrees for those jobs that require credentials such as a nurse, engineer, teacher or counselor. The wise prep schools know what is going on and are leading the right students to entrepreneurship and trade schools.

In the creative fields, people are now trained online by those who actually are at the top of their field. You can call it apprenticeship - like the good old days when Jesus trained to be a carpenter.

Training in ministry these days is similar. I don’t know many (any) people within my community that have my gifting, but I can go online and find a handful of seasoned Christians who can teach me how to develop in my anointing of: discerning of spirits, seer and scribe, etc.

There are even some groups that meet by conference call or skype. That is helpful but there’s nothing like actually being in live prophetic intercessory group where you can catch how to flow in the Spirit within a group through intercession.

With strategic prayer, you actually have to be in the trenches to understand the depth of warfare and the enemies various tactics. Someone yakking at me about their church-directed ministry is just words when I’ve been shot at more than a couple of times by spiritual snipers.

I’ve had witches stalk me to my favorite hangouts pretending to be my buddy-bud. Yeah, thanks for that friendship ring – not! Thank God for His dreams! Ask Kris Vallaton, spiritual guides hate Christians with the anointing of discerning of spirits but love everyone else. Meanwhile, they invade the church through friendships – just read the Jesuit oath and you get an idea of an imposter’s tactics. They know a great place to gain ground is in the kids ministry and with vulnerable, struggling Christians. And those Christians will defend them because they were there for them but they were also on the side tormenting them and keeping them in their bondage (something to think about for those who have a continual struggle).

The best place to forge real connections is in those ‘true’ mission groups where you struggle together in community. That is where the body is knit together. You get to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. You learn how to cover for each other. You can bring up your needs.

There have been two times in my life where the Christian community was there for me financially. I am so appreciative of how they ‘individually’ worked together to serve me in my time of need. It is in those vulnerable times that I have learned the treasure of darkness. The prosperity teachers won’t tell you about those times.

 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. Isaiah 45:3.

Most leaders don’t want to expose to you their past times of brokenness. But real, seasoned leaders will speak to you personally in those times. I said speak and not preach. I said personal and not congregational.  I have had several moments of personal conversations with seasoned leaders when I was at ground zero. These true leaders have been crushed and even devastated. That's an entry point to anointing. Olive must be crushed and so must the other elements found in the priestly anointing. Esther had her beautification process and you can look up what those elements symbolizes. Jesus was crushed at the Mount of Olives.

There will always be preaching because it is God's ‘foolish’ choice but the five-folders are to even go beyond preaching to actual hands-on training. Many people are not auditory learners. They have tactile, kinetic, and visual learning styles as well.

I’ve read that in ten years the majority of workers with be freelancers. How does that affect church dynamics? What will the body of Christ need? Maybe some tangible kind of network for prayer and support regarding the workplace and vocational callings.

Look around your church and tell me the general age of the people who show up, and I will tell you the style of the message. The older the crowd the more passive the message. The younger the crowd the more aggressive and zealous the message.

Actually, we are supposed to both receive from Christ and give through Christ. We are supposed to be both wise and enthusiastic. We are to be bold and kind. We are supposed to be both defensive and offensive in warfare. We are also to be active and passive in our relationship with God.

And we are to have our alone time with God and our place where community is created. I will leave you with one last question: Where do you go for true Christian fellowship? It doesn't have to be your church or a group but you should have some people in your life who can walk WITH you.