With the launch of the Apple iPhone in 2007 people all over the world now have access to more data than ever imaginable. Information is everywhere, yet loneliness, mental health disorders, anxiety, the breakdown of family, societal unrest are all on the increase. And it appears to be not too dissimilar within the Christian world - with so much information now accessible about the Bible, spirituality, discipleship, and theology, research seems to indicate that this has not necessarily led to people becoming more like Jesus. Why is this?

Could it be that information in isolation doesn’t lead to transformation?

The western world today are societies of individuals living largely somewhat isolated, and this impacts the way we act, think and believe. This worldview deeply affects our faith because at the core, individualism is an understanding of the world that has at its epicentre the individual soul. That is, the most important thing is the individual, not the community, which is perhaps why Mother Teresa referred to a country like America as ‘the most socially impoverished country in the world.’ She could see no visible community.

Whilst growth in our relationship with God, personal study, worship and prayer is vital, transformation is always enhanced and accelerated within community. Or to put it another way, life-change happens best in circles, not rows. In the context of church, communities are small groups connected through service or relationship where discipleship is outworked.

Consider the example Jesus set with gathering 12 men who literally lived together, learnt together and transformed not only themselves, but the whole world system. God’s not necessarily asking every one of us to shake up the whole world system – but at the very least – he's provided a model for us in which we can personally transform to be more like Him and encourage others in our small community to do the same.

To paint an ‘ideal’ picture in today’s world, our small communities are places where groups of people who love Jesus freely involve themselves in each other’s lives, and challenge each other to take those next steps of faith. They are places that include both mature and young Christians, mentors and peers, and where those who don’t know Jesus are welcome to join. Every person’s presence matters, and truth is presented with grace, they are places where friends together pursue to become more like Jesus.

Proverbs 27:17 states that as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Whilst this may be a commonly quoted verse for many, the power of it is not to be overlooked. In the natural, there is mutual benefit in the rubbing of two iron blades together; the edges become sharper, making the knives more efficient in their task to cut and slice. Likewise, the Word of God is a “double-edged sword” and it is with this that we are to sharpen (help transform) one another every time we gather within community.

Additionally, not only do communities enhance and accelerate spiritual transformation, they also provide an answer to the desperate state of loneliness that is fast becoming an epidemic in our society and something we can all bring solution to.

Cities are notorious for loneliness with recent worldwide statistics painting an interesting picture. In 2018 the British Prime Minister, Theresa May appointed a loneliness minister in the UK, where 25% of the Brits identified as often or always feeling lonely. In the USA loneliness statistics have doubled since the 1980’s - 35% of Americans report they are chronically lonely. In 1984 a study showed the average American had 3 confidants in the US, in a recent report 25% of Americans had 0.

Dr Vivek Murphy who is the 19th Surgeon General of the United States quotes ‘During my years caring for patients the most common pathology I saw was not heart disease or diabetes, it was loneliness. With loneliness comes a wide range of health problems – tied to heart disease, dementia, anxiety & depression.’

And on top of that, where once church was the anchor of society to provide community, church attendance has been cut in half since the 1950’s.

Every single human being needs to live within communities! What does yours look like?