M&V: What does “a community of Christ” mean?

[Ben Cheek]

Our Mission and Values statement defines Camp first as “a community of Christ”.

“A community of Christ” could mean many things, especially as the term “Christian” has come to mean many things political, cultural, spiritual, and religious. The best policy, IMO, would be to define it according to how Jesus himself did (Mission and Values : Core Value 1). Here are some scriptures from which I propose two key factors that define true Christian Community: It is Jesus-Centered and Kingdom-focused.

WEB John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. 2 Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.

8 “In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. 9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. 11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.

This is perhaps the most Jesus-centered verse about Christian community. The negative in the verse really spells it out: if you are not connected to Jesus in a way that he’s central to both your individual and communal life — as the vine and not just another branch among many that entangle your life — you can’t produce fruit or be a disciple or dwell in the love of God.

But this verse is also very Kingdom-focused: The reality of the centrality of Christ is shown by keeping his commandments. The Kingdom of God, at its most basic level, is God ruling as a good king in our hearts so that we do his will.

WEB Matthew 12:46 While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him. 47 One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you.”

48 But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 He stretched out his hand toward his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

This verse also says the same thing. Since Jesus uses the idea of his family to define Christian community, he is necessarily central. But it is not anyone who is part of that family, but those who do the Father’s will and thus manifest the Kingdom of God within and without.

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