Following Jesus means...

In school, I hated group projects. It was annoying to schedule a time to meet, to depend on others’ ability to follow through, and not to do the project how I wanted.  

I like to do things when I want and how I want.

Could you imagine Jesus saying that last line? I couldn’t. 

Our culture is radically individualistic.

There is a high priority placed on doing what we want and desire. On being self-sufficient, not interdependent. We don’t like asking for help, and we like to do things alone, me included. 

Independence is not a bad thing; we are called to care for ourselves. But the pendulum has gone too far. We have never been more connected, but we also have never been more alone. 

Jesus invites us into a different way of life.

One that gets to enjoy community. He not only taught this, but he also modelled it. He lived with his disciples for years. Even including them on some “group projects” that I am sure he could have done a better job alone. In fact, it is still how he works today; he uses us in conjunction with the Holy Spirit in the world. 

God wired our brains for community. It is why you wince when you see someone get hurt and smile when others smile. We are designed to be compassionate with others. Also, when we experience touch or have a meaningful interaction with someone, our stress and fear levels lower. 

This is why community isn’t optional; it’s how we grow. 

The purpose of following Jesus is to become a person of love, towards both God and others.

Therefore, to be people of love, we need to practice love and allow others to practice it with us. This happens in everyday life. The early church met with each other daily (Acts 2:42-45). Therefore, our relationships with people, especially Christians, should be part of our everyday life, not just special meeting times where we can be on our “best behaviour.” We are embodied creatures, and therefore we need to be with other bodies to both show and receive love. 

I get it, you are busy, you have things to do. But if you are incorporating community into your life, it isn’t about doing something MORE, it is about doing things WITH.  You are already eating, so eat with someone else. You are already exercising, so do it with someone else. If you already need to do some chores, invite someone along. If you are taking your kids to a park, invite a friend. 

And if you tell me you are still too busy, then guess what… You are TOO BUSY. If your life is getting in the way of following Jesus, then you probably need to make some changes to your life. 

This will look different for each of you depending on the season of life and personality. 

Call to Action: What is one consistent way you could include someone else in your life? Note, I said one step, don’t feel guilty and feel like you need to live in a commune. If you are not involved in a life group, you may want to look into joining one. What is a way you can invite others into your life so that you can put yourself in a position to love them and be loved by them? 

Maybe the group projects weren’t the problem after all.