By nature, I am an introvert. Some may find that hard to believe, but it’s true. I am most inclined to withdraw into myself and avoid connections. It is only through years of practice that I have learned how to engage with others in meaningful and beneficial ways. I have learned to express myself as an extrovert, but even so, there are times when I much prefer the company of a book over anything — or anyone — else.

I often wrestle with myself because of my nature. If God designed us to be in community, why do I have the personality that would prefer solitude over crowds? If it is not good to be alone, and we need one another, why do I withdraw into myself as a protective instinct in order to prevent the pain that comes with relationships and interactions with people? How do I reconcile these warring sides of my own self?

Because of my nature, I have had a hard time really opening myself up to others fully. It seems that when I do, it frequently leads to feelings of betrayal, rejection, frustration, and pain. The knee-jerk reaction is to simply say, “No. I just won’t open myself up to others.” But that’s not the way. That’s not how we are called to live as Christians.

We are called and created to be in community with one another. We are called to invest in one another, and journey with one another as we discover who God wants us to be, and as we journey toward that goal. Simply put, community exists when we connect with others in an authentic way, in order to love, serve, encourage, and support one another as we grow in Christ. This requires that I set aside my introverted nature and become open and transparent with others as I seek to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

Will this result in pain? Probably, because we are broken and fallen individuals, and we won’t get it right always. But those times we do get it right are worth the effort. It helps us understand who we really are, both as individuals and as the body of Christ, together.

Community fosters some very tangible benefits within the life of the church. I can think of several, but three really stand out to me at this point in my own life.

Community helps us understand identity

I can only fully understand who I am in relation to those around me. The body of Christ is often described as a family (1 Timothy 3:14-15; Ephesians 2:19), and family is the first and most foundational aspect of community. We exist most fully when we find and form right relationships with others. We are not designed to be alone. This is seen clearly in the concept of the Trinity. God exists in community, as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Since we are created “in his image” (Genesis 1:26), then that means that we, too, are designed to be in community.

Community helps us grow in our faith and spiritual maturity

When we look at the early church in the Book of Acts, we see a community that is growing together as they seek out ways to keep company with Jesus, and live that out in front of others. God’s plan for the church is that it be a place where broken people can find restoration and wholeness, and then offer that to others. Need evidence of this? Take a look at a list of passages that contain the phrase “one another.” Out of over one hundred instances of this phrase in the New Testament, notice how many instruct us to be in community, and how we should act in community.

Community gives us a place to serve

When we are in community with one another, we have an opportunity to put the needs of others ahead of our own (Philippians 2:3-4). Community is a place where we can put to use the gifts that God has given us. Community is a place where we can seek out the best for another person. And that just might begin by being people who give and receive forgiveness and offer restoration to one another. That can form the foundation for so much more to take place, and God’s presence can be clearly seen in such actions. We will never reach perfection in this life, but even in our imperfection, we can be committed to a God who is perfect, and he’ll do what we cannot.

This theme of community is something that God has been weaving into my life consistently over the past few months. He has brought people into my life who challenge this aspect of spiritual formation, and who push me to grow more Christlike. Sometimes, I don’t really like it, because it comes with difficulty for me, but I know it’s what I need, and so I seek to be open in those relationships.

He has placed books in my path that point to the need for community. In fact, right now, I am reading two different books, each reinforcing the need for community in my life: The Good and Beautiful Community, by James Bryan Smith, is an excellent reminder of our need for one another. And Adorning the Dark, by Andrew Peterson, has opened my mind to some different perspectives on community, things I have never stopped to consider. Both are definitely worth reading.

Mostly, though, I return over and over to Paul’s letters, especially his letters to the Philippian, the Colossian, and the Ephesian churches. These short letters remind me of my “one another-ness.” They remind me that I am not designed to withdraw into myself and remain there. Solitude is good for me, but it is not a place where I can live all the time.

And so I seek community. I seek to live a life engaged with others, even if that comes with some discomfort from time to time.

The end result is worth it.

Question: What do you think of when you think of community? How do you practice it, and engage with others in the Body of Christ? You can leave a comment by clicking here.