Chapter 2: Our Calling
2. Our Calling : Church Community
To live for the kingdom of God leads to church community. God wants to gather a people on earth who belong to his new creation. He calls them out to form a new society that makes his justice and peace tangible. Among them private property falls away, and they are united in a bond of solidarity and equality in which each one says: Whatever I have belongs to the others, and if I am ever in need, they will help me. Then Jesus’ words can come true: “Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
Such a people came into being in Jerusalem at the first Pentecost. As described in Acts 2 and 4, the Holy Spirit descended on the believers who had gathered after Jesus’ resurrection, and the first communal church was born. Just as it was then, so it will be today whenever the Spirit is poured out on a group of people. They will be filled with love for Christ and for one another, and their communion of love will lead them to share their goods, talents, and lives, boldly testifying to the gospel. This is our calling in church community.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need.
— Acts 4:32–35
We are a fellowship of brothers and sisters, both single and married, who are called by Christ to follow him together in a common life in the spirit of the first church in Jerusalem. We desire to remain true to this calling all our lives. For its sake we gladly renounce all private property, personal claims, and worldly attachments and honors. Our vocation is a life of service to God and humankind, freely giving our whole working strength and all that we have and are.
Church community is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Any attempt to force it into being will produce only a disappointing caricature. Without help from above, we human beings are selfish and divided, unfit for life together. Our best motives and efforts ultimately prove unsound; as Jesus tells us, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” We remain sinners utterly dependent on grace.
Yet we have experienced Christ’s transforming love. He makes the impossible possible: for ordinary men and women to live together in forgiveness and mutual trust, as brothers and sisters, the children of one Father. It is his Spirit that calls believers to a life of love where work, worship, mission, education, and family life are brought together into a single whole. We are convinced that such a life in church community is the greatest service we can render humanity and the best way we can proclaim Christ.
Christ brings all this about through his sacrifice on the cross. By taking suffering and death upon himself, he atoned for our sins and the sins of the whole world. His cross is the only place we can be forgiven and find peace with God and one another. The cross is the means of our personal salvation, but it is also more: it has cosmic significance. Here Christ overcomes all powers of evil and enmity, fulfills the justice of God, and reconciles the whole universe to himself.
Christ’s cross is at the center of our life together. “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” We seek to go the way of the cross as he did – the way of humility, vulnerability, and self-sacrificing love.
Our church community is only a small part of the universal church. This universal church is the body of Christ, made up of all who belong to him; it is his bride, set apart for him alone. It cannot be identified with any human institution or group. As the early Christians testify,1 it is a work of God, not of man. Ordained from the beginning of creation, it includes the apostles, prophets, martyrs, and believers from every age who are with God as the “cloud of witnesses” from every nation, tribe, and race.
If asked whether we are the one true church, we reply, “No” – we are merely objects of God’s mercy like everybody else. But if asked whether we experience the church as a reality in our daily lives, then we must affirm that we do, through the grace of God. Jesus promises that wherever even two or three are gathered in his name – that is, in full love and obedience to him – he will be present in their midst. Then their fellowship will be united with the one holy, universal, and apostolic church.
Christ is the head of this church. Just as a single vine nourishes many branches, so he joins together the diverse bands of his followers on earth, endowing them with his authority, unity, and commission.
