BEING GOD'S COMMUNITY by Linden Malki

When the Communist regime in Romania fell in 1989,  it was found that there were many orphanges with children whose parents had relinquished them because of poverty. These children had lived restricted and without the attention that children need, and they were found to be not only physically in poor condition, but mentally and emotionally as well.  Studies have been done of children's brains, and they have found that brains of children who do not get attention as infants do not develop properly, and are physically smaller.  This is another thing we can learn from, not only in the interest in children's health, but it gives us another look into the creative mind of God. God started the human race by saying that "it is not good for man to be alone." This is still true, has always been true.Each one of our lives was produced by a relationship between two people. That relationship can fail, but it is not God's intention.

Beyond good parents, a strong society depends upon healthy families, good communities, and people working together for the common good. Looking at history and Scripture, we find people living in families, clans, tribes, cities--in community. The original Law is written for people living in interdependent groups, who come together to worship. We look around and see people living alone, looking for relationships, often superficial.  Some of the trouble we see in our world comes from people who do not have good relationships and don't care about anytone else; some comes from people looking for community in the wrong places, and without knowing how to judge the messages constantly bombarding us.

We are commanded to love God, and love each other. This does not mean dominating others, doing things for others that satisfy our  desires but not necessarily that of the others, or being doormats in the hope of getting attention. We need to come together in the name and love of God, to pray together, study together, play together, be good company for each other, watch for ways we can bring glory to God through our relationships with others. We need above all to listen--to God, to each other, to Scripture, to good mentors and teachers, to strengthen the good in our world and discourage the evil.  Jesus brought people together in many contexts; his followers met together in His name and changed the world.  Can we work together in His Name and change San Bernardino, and the world?