One Another

This week I listened to a podcast from Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California. Many of you will recognize that this is the home church of Francis Chan. The message was entitled, "A New Attitude Towards People." He talks about how in our society today we have such an autonomy, such pride in independence from each other. We like to do things on our own without the help of others. Interestingly, this is a phenomenon mostly seen in cultures with plenty of financial resources. I was just researching some cultural background for my trip to Kenya, and basically everything pointed to interdependence between the family and community.

Francis mentioned many scriptures that point towards exactly the opposite of autonomy. Take a look:

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10

"Live in harmony with one another." Romans 12:16

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
Romans 15:7

"Agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." 1 Corinthians 1:10

"Serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21

"Bear with each another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another." Colossians 3:13

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11

"But encourage one another daily..." Hebrews 3:13

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Hebrews 10:24

"Love one another deeply, from the heart." 1 Peter 1:22

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." 1 Peter 4:9

"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another." 1 John 3:11

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 1 John 4:11

And that is only the beginning!! Clearly God desires for us to live in community and care for one another. He is not interested in our individual accomplishments, but rather the spurring on of relationships dependent upon Him. After all, if I can indeed do it all on my own, then what need have I for the Father? A relationship with Christ is one of interdependence. As the grass depends on the rain for nourishment, so I must depend upon God for my spiritual feeding. And much of that comes from my interactions with other people.

Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends. Czech Proverb