The Need for Community: Why have friends?

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The Christian life cannot be lived alone. In the Star Wars Clone Wars Series, a trooper, after being complimented, responded, “A trooper is only as strong as the one next to him”. This same principle applies to the Christian life. If we surround ourselves with those who despise everything our faith involves (and many do), then we can expect that our relationship with God will begin to evanesce. Of course, we shouldn’t surround ourselves with exclusively holy people (since we are called to be a light to the nations). We were made to be a part of a community, each community has its own demands and purpose, our gifts are not our own, and our life is not about us.

“it is not good for man to be alone”(cf. Genesis 2). Through our interactions with others, mutual generosity, and charitable communication with our Christian brethren we form ourselves to be who God created us to be. It is very humbling to realize that the person we find ourselves to be was formed exclusively by God’s Grace, biology, and our senses (which of course is largely the experience of external realities and the investment of others in us). We respond to God’s call in our lives when we share in each other’s burdens(Galatians 6:2). We are likewise called to help each other avoid sin and pursue not just virtue but constant communion with God. In doing so with the love with which Christ has loved us some part of us is fulfilled (cf. John 13:34).[1]

Community which is our calling, cannot be simply our own invention. Community is a gift to be received and then given. Precisely like everything else in our lives, we lose the benefits of the good when we resolve to keep it to ourselves(cf. Matthew 10:39). We are given special talents, experiences, wisdom, knowledge, virtue, property, hobbies, etc. that were/are destined to be shared. In giving of them we receive them most completely for if we choose not to give them forth, why would God continue to bless us with them? These we also receive from others. Community is one of God’s greatest gifts because it is neither physical Providence to which we are accustomed by the necessity for existence nor the spiritual via prayer and sacraments, but it provides for the mind and the heart in a way that we need to be healthy, happy, and holy. The Christian is not his own and in receiving the fullest gift of community, we realize in what capacity we truly need it.

By choosing to be a member of a community, we choose to give of ourselves. Each of the communities we become members of come with its own purpose. Each community guided by its own principles must be oriented toward the good of all people. Businesses, schools, governments, families, churches, school boards, unions, colleagues, etc. Demand something of their members and only fulfill their existence if those they serve and those they incorporate are given the dignity of their identity as God’s creation and family.

In conclusion, every relationship is a formed community. What role we play in the said community is derived from the nature of the relationship. Sometimes the communities formed are just business-oriented others are a gift for our needs and the needs of others. Marriage for example is a unique and privileged gift of love from God that forms a communion of persons and the most intimate of communities. Good Christian community is a need of the human soul and should be pursued in all states of life independent of vocation. Discipleship is the most intimate community and is needed only second to marriage. We need to invest and thereby love with respect to these kinds of communities to encounter and grow the kingdom of God on earth and the more we give to these human institutions (especially as Christians) the more they embody what we need i.e. God’s loving Providence.

"The individual person, the family of intermediate groups are not able to achieve their full development by themselves for living a truly human life."[2]
FN: 
  1. Gaudium et Spes 24.3
  2. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1880
Your love is great O lord but my needs are many,
by your providence, we have available blessed company.
Angels and Saints sure
but still more your presence in the good pure.

In loving them we are loving You,
with them, we are loved too!
I often forget the way and lose my sight.
Their presence with me Thy good Samaritan.

In the same struggle, they too are,
to each other blindness a guiding star.
Struggling also they grieve our state,
with them and by the love destruction shall not be our fate.
I am a created entity, not a person.

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