True Community

In an age of subjectivity and relativism, Jerry Bridges stresses over and over the objective nature of our Christian relationship with God and each other. Believers are objectively united to Jesus Christ and His body, and this unity has deep implications for the church.

Bridges looks closely at the Greek word koinonia, which can be translated participation, partnership, sharing, and fellowship. All these should characterize our actions as individuals and as a biblical community, which is not limited to our geographical milieu or any particular congregation or denomination.

Christians are cautioned not to think of relationship or fellowship in terms of a Sunday morning coffee hour. This kind of "fellowship" is superficial, and actually works against the kind of True Community Jesus calls us to pursue. Communion with God is our primary concern, and from a well-cultivated relationship with our Lord flow holy interpersonal relationships.

We're also warned against thinking of community in a strictly physical sense. A well-functioning community looks to the needs of its members, which can mean sharing material possessions, but more frequently means sharing spiritual gifts, helping each other through periods of suffering, and serving one another in love.

True community also means an outward focus, not just looking inward to our immediate context. United Christians partner in Gospel witness, social action, and local ministry. Throughout, Bridges focuses on the sanctification that fellowship with God and his people fosters, urging us to keep this goal at the front of all our efforts.

This is a perfect book for adult Sunday school classes and small groups. Bridges includes group discussion questions at the end of each chapter to facilitate dialogue and reflection. When the church is immensely fractured, this appeal, exhortation, and theological investigation of community is much-needed and deeply poignant.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.