The two terms are not coextensive. In our churches, we have casual contact with people who may not actually be part of our lives on a regular basis. They’re not part of our Christian community, but for 60 or 90 minutes a week, they inhabit the same worship space as we do.
People whom we see more frequently may form our Christian community, even though they’re not part of our church. Coworkers, neighbors, teammates, club members, and others, if they are followers of Jesus, may share a quote from Scripture or support us in prayer.
Working side-by-side with a fellow believer for 40 or more hours a week, over years, might make that person more a part of your Christian community than a fellow church member whom you barely know.
Naturally, it would be nice if our church were our Christian community. We undertake efforts on a regular basis to strengthen our discipling relations within our congregation.
We must, however, beware the pitfalls of attempting to attain that ideal state in which ‘Christian community’ and ‘church’ are exactly synonymous.
When we fail to acknowledge and accept the fallenness of this world, we are tempted to engage in a utopian question for the perfect church, which would also be the perfect Christian community. Such a well-intentioned but misguided effort will not end well.
Some of the darkest chapters of history are the results of quixotic endeavors to construct consummate Christian community. Such ventures forget to reckon with the brokenness of the world.
Efforts to construct a perfect church in a world which is inherently imperfect are efforts which justify extreme means by citing the nobility of their goal. If perfection is attainable, then any measures are warranted in the pursuit thereof.
The actual results of such attempts are cults and dictatorships, often harsh ones, demanding unconditional loyalty and obedience.
God, on the other hand, is asking us to patiently endure life in an imperfect world - in which neither church nor Christian community will be ideal.
We can, and should, ask if there are things we can do to improve our fellowships. But looking for steps toward improvement is something quite different than a vision of perfect association. Such visions are dangerous.
God asks us to forbear, and persevere in our in communities, knowing that we, and the others in them, are all sinners. Churches and fellowships are imperfect.
Our communities are groups of sinners positioned around a sinless God, imperfect humans placed into contact with a perfect Messiah, finite people encountering an infinite Jesus.
Churches will never be perfect, and neither will Christian community. But God still uses them, and we should look for the good in them, and from time to time, we may be able to adjust them and make them a bit better than they are.
We must be patient and realistic, both about our fellowships, and about ourselves.
