CHURCH IDENTITY
God's Community

WCF 26 Of the Communion of the Saints:

All saints that are united to Jesus Christ their head by his Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with him…And being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s gifts and graces; and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good…performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification…Which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.

The reality of the Church as a community is rooted in the nature of the God who established it. As a God who delights in communion and community, the true and living God, who is one, has always existed in three persons. Thus, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have always participated in communion with one another. Not only has God had communion from all eternity with himself, but when God created mankind in his own image he made him for the purpose of fellowship with himself. As a result of mankind’s bearing God’s image, man is by nature a communal creature, made to have communion with God and to live in community with one another. These two elements (communion with God and community with one another) are not separate in the plan of God but instead work together. God does not have communion merely with individual people, but instead, joins with all of his people as a gathered community. Conversely, individuals are not to seek communion with God independent of others, but should experience that communion corporately as members of God’s community. This reality can be seen throughout the Scriptures where God is the God not only of particular individuals, but also of his people as a corporate society. The Bible speaks often of God’s kingdom, or God’s household, or God’s flock. So, too, in the New Testament the Church is referred to as the body of Christ. Each of these descriptions present the communal nature of God’s dealing with his people. Indeed, even the term “Church” itself indicates this, since its primary meaning is an assembly.

We know from observing God’s universe that, without effort, all things will tend toward disorder. Machines break, flowers die, and people weaken with age. What is true in the material world is true of our traditions and practices as well. In earlier days people were accustomed to thinking of themselves as members of a community. [They may have wished to live, work, or worship somewhere else, but without the ability to move about the country freely most people were “stuck” where they were, for better or worse. That was the nature of their community.] As we see the communities of our society and our churches breakdown we dare not be content to lament, but must work to restore and maintain that community. While the remainder of society experiences this breakdown of community in the modern world, the church must strive to remain a strong sense of community.

The family is the foundational unit of all society, and provides the clearest example of true community. As the family of God, the church is to be a place where all it’s members are joined together in mutual love and service. This service extends to all aspects of our lives, physical, emotional and spiritual. Each member is to employ his gifts and abilities for the good of one another.* As a part of the whole church, each member is to be so connected with the others that the joys and sorrows of one are the joys and sorrows of the body (Rom. 12:15). This bond is rooted in love; first for Christ, and second for all who belong to Christ.

WCF 26 Of the Communion of the Saints
All saints that are united to Jesus Christ their head by his Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with him…And being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s gifts and graces; and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good…performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification…Which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.