Comments on: Of Mice, Men, and Christian Community

By: John Hobbs

John Hobbs — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:36:33 +0000

I have always loved that story and your commentary is wise. nice pick up J
pops

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:30:18 +0000

Thanks for your comments, everybody. I was interested in what you said, Dedee, as I can see, was everybody else who responded. It is sad what we will settle for when authentic community is what we all really need and seek.

I did want to throw in on that, however, that it is not necessarily a bad sign that we have to think about community. As broken people in need of the God of grace every second of every day, our communities are necessarily broken and in need of Divine help. So it is a good thing to be able to discuss how we can be more like our Triune, happy God.

Btw, Jay- way to bring the cross into it! I wish I had done that so great pickup! Love is always sacrificial!!!

keep ‘em coming, everybody!

By: Jay Hobbs

Jay Hobbs — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:38:45 +0000

Very good stuff, Case, and it’s almost as refreshing to read the comments.

True friendship is much more painful than we’d ever thought, but then, God’s befriending of us has been much more painful to Him than we can imagine.

Let’s live as free men and women.

By: Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:15:47 +0000

What a tender exchange that comes from such a tender post. Thanks, Casey, Dedee, Jen and Jennifer. Of course JMac had to interject the whole murder angle, but have you ever listened to some of the music he goes ape over? It makes me want to murder myself. Just kidding JM.

I think I’m just beginning to experience true Christian community at Journey.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:18:49 +0000

I really enjoyed this post (I am now a subscriber to Casey’s blog) and find it immediately relevant. And, unfortunately, I agree with Dedee in that I think some of the disconnect between Christians in community or any friend to another is in some part due to social media. I was blogging in 2004 for several years with little to no effect. But as the social media trends continue to grow, I see relationships worsening exponentially. What used to be a Game Boy in a disinterested middle schooler’s hand is now an iPhone in an adult’s. We are a society that is increasingly “unplugged” from the present, removed from face to face and overly emphasized on self-importance. I don’t think it is an all-encompassing problem, but I do think it is a dangerous trend. Seeing videos like “Did You Know 4.0″ did not excite me; they worry me.

As social media is so young and is already causing this small ripple of discontent, I am hoping there will be self-correction.

Would have enjoyed this discussion face-to-face, Dedee, and loved the comparison to “Of Mice and Men”, Casey! Community has been on the young church’s mind and is very important and worth time and follow through.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:53:33 +0000

WOW!
Dedee, you voiced this well and I don’t think you need to appologize for using this forum knowing the pitfalls of the current cultural technological obsessive crazed world…In my oppinion, it is best to use what we have well, and you did so.

Having said that, I agree with you 100%.
And Jonathan, I just picture “Psycho” when I think about your comment…and so want to do that myself, without actually doing the deed. So, yeah, ditto!!!

Friendship/relationships are not modelled well in current society, period. We are rude, selfish, calculating, ignorant, abusive, power hungry, impatient, and less than forgiving. Like, well, little babies walking around in grown up gear. And we don’t “own the look” well.

This is exactly what happens when you get into community/church…You find brokeness there because of the confusion without. As a result, people don’t know how to respond rightly with each other, when they enter it, so yes, it then has to be taught.

I find that many are turned away or off by things they don’t understand, and are less than caring; finding it taxing to the spend time and figure out the best way to invest better in people/relations and have good meaningful relationships.

But, really, that’s what the “instruction manual” is all about.
Still, it’s taxing and tiring work…but somebody has to “do” it…for the good of your “neighbor” and self.

By: Dedee

Dedee — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:18:44 +0000

This post is wonderfully written and using the relationship of George and Lennie was a beautiful portrayl of friendship. I find it sad that we have to “teach” people or at least remind them of the importance of community, how it looks, and should be lived out. It has only been recently that I have noticed that this is an issue which is being raised. I honestly believe that social media contributes to this disconnect between people. People have hundreds of “friends” on FB yet have very few interpersonal relationships. I think it is negatively affecting younger generations to the point of possibly crippling them in knowing how to really be a friend. Life is being lived out via texting, FB, Twitter etc. I truly believe that there is a ministry of presence. We are created to be social beings which means we need to interact with others face to face…voice to voice…hold someone’s hand…listen (which don’t get me started on the lack of this skill)and really caring for someone else. This post really portrays the importance of this. Thank you Casey. And yes I recognize the irony of using this forum to communicate what I believe.

By: Jonathan McIntosh

Jonathan McIntosh — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:48:20 +0000

Casey, I’ll say this: sometimes Christian community has made me wish for a “somehow beautiful way” to kill someone.

Of course, I don’t think that was the connection you were looking for.

Seriously – good post.