Day 6

One or more

John Wesley instituted his "class meetings" in America in part because he believed it was incredibly difficult to follow Christ faithfully if you did not have the support and accountability found in community. He instructed them to meet weekly and ask the same questions of accountability. The practice seemed so methodical to outsiders, those in attendance became known as "Methodists."

Why so methodical? To paraphrase Wesley, "that we might not make a shipwreck of our faith."

Would it be easier to repudiate the scarcity assumption as an individual or as a member of a like-minded community? For me, the answer is as simple as it is complex.

As an individual, I struggle against my baser instincts on a regular basis. I strive to be decent, good and compassionate, but I fail regulalry. I have been more "successful" at times, specifically when I've been a part of small 'covenant groups' that agree to hold one another accountable for our faith and actions by asking each other weekly, "what acts of compassion, justice, devotion and worship did you do this week?" and "How is it with your soul?"

However, I have been part of like-minded communities (a term I reserve for larger groups) that do not encourage my growth as a disciple of Christ. The difference of course is how the group or community is "like-minded."

I've been part of churches, and "communities" within them, whose like-mindedness has led them further from the gospel. Stories abound about churches that were so fearful, they gradually began sharing less and less in the community: churches who keep their doors locked during 'office hours,' as a safety precaution; churches who made so many rules about how mission money could be spent, they ended up spending it on themselves. Many of those churches are still around, they are trendy restaurants and antique shops.

May our fear never govern our faith, and may we always be blessed to have at least one individual who will not let us become fearfully like-minded.