A Field Guide to Biblical Community Намуна

Yesterday introduced an individualistic mindset that impacts our spirituality and opposes the way God made faith and growth. If much of the Christian life is learning to trust God, rely on His Spirit, and obey His commandments, it’s impossible to be Christian without living in deep relationship with others!

Colossians 3:12-16 references some New Testament verses known as the “one another commands.” All the marks Paul lists involve relationship with others: “Compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” are only on display if another person is involved. Forgiveness, “love,” and “perfect harmony” require other people too (often, those toward whom we find it difficult to enact those qualities). We are “one body,” “teaching and admonishing one another” (Col. 3:5–16). And I skipped my favorite “one another command”: “Bearing with one another,” which is also translated as “Be tolerant with one another.” (Col. 3:13 GNT). (Even if I cannot fulfill the other commands, surely I can put up with fellow believers . . . most of the time!)

Colossians highlights the interconnectedness between the love of God and the love of our neighbors as ourselves. These are two sides of one coin; they reflect Jesus’ answer when asked about the greatest [single] commandment (Mark 12:28–31). Jesus answers with two commandments that cannot be separated; neither can exist without the other. “There is no other commandment greater than these.” We display our love of God primarily through our love of neighbor. (Conversely, even some of the most educated people I know who claim to follow Jesus display a lack of love for God by a lack of love for neighbors.)

What does Christian love look like? It looks like loving people, created in God’s image, with the selfless, sacrificial love of Christ. It looks like living the “one another commands” by the power of God’s Spirit. After all, “Whatever you did for . . . the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,” Jesus explains, “you did for me” (Matt. 25:40 NIV).

1) Why is it nearly impossible to show a love for God without relationship with others?

2) What hinders you from being able to “love… serve…” and carry out other “one another” commands regularly? Pray that God would fill you with His Spirit and help you love others.