Seriously, the idea of an intentional community should invigorate, empower, and encourage any disciple of Jesus today. I love hearing about couples, families, groups being a part of an intentional community. I get a little more hopeful each time about the future of Christianity here in the US. A part of me gets jealous, but I think that’s okay. I consider it encouragement toward a goal my wife and I have hoped for for some time.
Intentional Community is not about the hippie culture, Marxism, handmade blue and white checkered dresses for the women to match their bonnets, or David Coresh. Intentional Community is about Christ and his Kingdom; it’s about seeing and living out Christianity here and now; it’s about being disciples of Jesus and trusting in the Holy Spirit.
They’re not large. They’re not small. They’re whatever and however the Lord desires.
I think everyone should consider the idea of an intentional, kingdom centered community.
Just some quick, sort of "Why in the world is he saying this," thoughts. Not meant to be a full exposition; just an idea.
Jason
2 months ago
I am right there with you man. Still in the planning stage here.
Michael Cornett
2 weeks ago
I recently read about this concept and immediately reminded me of the
reason monasticism got off the ground the way it did in the 4th
Century when Christianity wasn’t so persecuted. Church of Acts was
very much in this light, but slowly lost it’s zeal in the general
population as the growth took place. I think it’s a natural step to
any metropoulis society. In our day, in our emensely populated world,
a tightknit church community serves this purpose well. If you read
writings even in the 4th Century, particularly “On the Priesthood” by
St John Chrysostom, you will find a set of guidelines for how a church
community should function in a busy world of short attention spans.
Here is a link to that thread:
http://www.monachos.net/forum/showthread.php?5904-Non-monastic-intentional-communities
Here’s another that brings up past experience with such communities, and fears of xenophobic insularity, which would go completely against the original intentions:
http://www.monachos.net/forum/showthread.php?2554-On-developing-a-mission-parish-community