At the Transformation Series conference about three weeks ago Paul Trip did some work out Hebrews chapter 10 that I have been noodling on since that weekend.

[(nōōd'ling) to contemplate, meditate, think about.]

The concept is not new, and most of us are quick to pay it lip service.

The concept: Christianity is meant to be lived out in community.

Ground breaking I know. Probably not the first time you’ve heard this proposition, but have you ever noodled on it?

We are created in the image of the Trinitarian God who exist in community. “Yes, yes” we nod our heads in agreement. yet few of us willing seek out encouraging, rebuking, exciting, fun, painfully authentic community in our church. I am convinced that the majority of Christian hear this proposition say that you could, may, might benefit from, living out your faith in community. The reality however is that this is not a suggestion. There is an expectation in this text that we live in community (Heb. 10:22-25). In fact, verse 25 is a rebuke to those that think they don’t need to be apart of it. As Mr. Tripp indicated, this is not a call to attend a church service, but to live life together in a meaningful way that exposes our sins, encourages us in faith and draws us closer to Christ.

As I sat in my office this week I was posed the all too familiar question: Why do you think people avoid community? If I had a nickel .

Just to give you background, we currently have approximately 1/3 of our Sunday attendees in Community Groups including ½ of our members.* Respectable numbers by church statistical standards, but far from the expectation of Scripture and to what I believe God is calling us. *This does not include other legitimate forms of community.

So why DO people avoid community?

One reason, and I believe the most significant, is that in authentic community our sin is exposed. We can keep up appearances at work, a family function, or a barbecue. but if we are in a community of believers who take scriptures like Hebrews 3:13 seriously, we cannot hide for long. We all sin, and as John 3:20 outs us, we “will not come into the light for fear that [our] deeds will be exposed.” We fear light like a 32 year old actress fears HDTV. In reality, however, it is this exposure that gives us life. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7)

Unfortunately too many of us have believed the lie that darkness is better then light. In the deepest parts of our regenerate hearts we want communion with God and fellowship with each other… but we have been deceived by the promise of comfort that does not bring peace. My challenge is to live in the light believing the promise of my faithful God that the shame of being exposed will be worth the joy of glorifying Jesus.

So let us live life together, willing to be pruned by God through His Word and His people for the purpose of glorifying Jesus… and don’t forget to bring your sunglasses.

Has anyone else checked out the book “Relationships: A Mess Worth Making“? It’s a new one by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp, the guys who wrote How People Change and presented it at the training conference in Ballard this past weekend.

First thing I noticed about the Relationships book was its cover. Clearly they are trying to appeal to a younger and more street level audience.

Next, I flipped through the pages and noticed that they begin each chapter by quoting music lyrics. Not hymns. Not “Contemporary Christian” stuff. Legit stuff like Radiohead, U2, The Vines, Oasis, Wilco, and Bright Eyes! I just laughed out loud and said, “Who’d these guys get to do their research? Because they must have been listening to Seattle’s indie radio station, KEXP.”

Well, at dinner Friday night, I asked about this curiosity, expecting to hear their confession that they did a little “market research” for this one. Paul Tripp flatly replied, “yeah, Tim and I just pulled those out of our personal collections…” I thought he was being sarcastic, and I played along! To the point that I later apologized that I might have insulted him. He was serious! I back-pedalled :-)

He already knew the title of the new Wilco album, which was just released less than a week ago!

So anyway, I gotta hand it to them. They’re actually in touch. I don’t know why I’m so surprised. But it’s refreshing.

Oh, and Paul’s an abstract painter too. Check this out…