Out for my daily walk/run the other day and a car draws up beside me in Mugdock Road. It’s a lad I got to know in the gym. It must be about 18 months since we last met but he knew about my illness, heard about my progress and was pleased to see me out and about.
Moving on through the village and I meet a St Paul’s Elder just out of Marks and Spencer and offering me a mask if I need to go in. I don’t but it’s great to see her and to chat.
Making my way through rabbits and rubbish in Lennox Park I come across a friend who works for Stauros, the Christian support group for those who have addiction problems. I’ve had a long association with Stauros mainly through leading Bible Studies and it’s good to hear how things have been going through the lockdown.
So a longer walk/run than usual but I come home with a renewed appreciation of community. I have met three people who are part of various communities - gym, church, Stauros - who remember me and care for me. I’m reminded that that was an essential part of the witness of the first followers of Jesus in Jerusalem. And it made an impact on the society of which they were a part. Despite hesitations people still saw the quality of the followers life together and were drawn to share it. Those early Christians were ‘highly regarded by the people.’ (Acts 5: 13)
The community would be disrupted and scattered in the aftermath of Stephen’s execution and wherever they went they told the story of Jesus and what it meant and new communities were formed. That was the priority that lay at the heart of the first missions. The apostles encouraged new followers of Jesus to regard themselves as the Body of Christ, the Army of Christ, the Temple of Christ. Each image emphasising solidarity as well as dynamism.
The need for Christian community has been expressed in various ways in these Covid-19 days. We are all well aware of the efforts that have been made through online ministry to provide worship and other devotional material. Bible Studies, prayer meetings, fellowship times have all given us opportunities to see and hear our brothers and sisters in Christ. No one would ever claim that this is entirely satisfying. We still pray for the day when once again we will be together in one place. But God knows our circumstances as He has known the circumstances of Christians under pressure through the millennia and He is able to draw us together through His Spirit. It was when he felt alone and abandoned that Paul experienced the strength of Christ. (2 Timothy 4: 17) It was while John was isolated on the Island of Patmos that he heard the voice of Jesus. (Revelation 1: 10-11)
We have a need to be together but when forced to be apart God does not deny us His blessings.
