tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343163817426504212.post9113728630699277143..comments2023-08-15T14:13:25.881+01:00Comments on The Simple Pastor: What about community?Phil Whittallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02924050376023993196noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343163817426504212.post-36202173497305560192008-11-20T21:17:00.000+00:002008-11-20T21:17:00.000+00:00Please DO make the effort, we'll benefit and hopef...Please DO make the effort, we'll benefit and hopefully you will too.Phil Whittallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02924050376023993196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343163817426504212.post-82989923206059038242008-11-20T20:37:00.000+00:002008-11-20T20:37:00.000+00:00Your posts don't usually bring tears to my eyes bu...Your posts don't usually bring tears to my eyes but the last paragraph of this one did.<BR/><BR/>I grew up in a church which lived "in community". We shared our houses, meals and holidays, and sometimes our cars or childcare. We had a dance group, a drama group and we celebrated together a lot. We spent a lot of time in each others' houses. And non-believers were attracted to the church and to Jesus because they saw the love and the fun we shared.<BR/><BR/>I've been puzzling about the friendship issue recently. I had decided that I find it so difficult to have friends either because (a) I generally don't understand how friendships work, or (b) I smell bad. But now you've got me thinking. Maybe I need to make a bit more of an effort because being a healthy church community is right and good and God-honouring and the Enemy is going to try his best to discourage it.<BR/><BR/>Better rule out the bad smell theory first though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343163817426504212.post-50346938571773433092008-11-20T09:42:00.000+00:002008-11-20T09:42:00.000+00:00It annoys me wqhen some christians want community ...It annoys me wqhen some christians want community but only if the people look like them, sound like them, have the same hobbies as them, the same humour as them, the same values as them.<BR/><BR/>I want community to cross ages, cross demographics, cross educational backgrounds etc. That is real community.<BR/><BR/>On a sunday a couple of weeks ago I spoke to a former head of a local football hooligan firm, and then the child of a former african president. They are in my community.<BR/><BR/>What I have also found is that in some cases there is more "community" amongst my friends who support Shrewsbury Town than there are between Christians. People lending stuff, offering advice, giving lifts, helping out. All you need is a blue and amber shirt and people will do almost anything to help.Blue, with a hint of amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17689914726284208496noreply@blogger.com