Saturday, January 31, 2009

Where the heck is Suburbia Majora -- IV

I Suppose that this essay has been teased out quite long enough and now, I should bring it to its logical conclusion. Living in Suburbia Majora (SubMaj) can be maddening, living out the Christian life as it was meant to be lived out will offer more than an antidote for the gnawing insanity that surrounds us here. However Before we push back from the gate, I want to point out that there are light years of separation between what is seen as "typical" Christianity, and what C.S. Lewis described are "normal" Christianity.

From its birth, the Christian Faith was to be lived out and practiced in community. Consider Saint Luke's description of the infant Church in the Acts:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The Good Doctor, in a few sentences paints a vivid picture of the vital, healthy community. Far from shutting themselves in, they reached to one another and the world around them. As they moved in one mind and one heart, the Holy Spirit was manifest in their presence. Moving in community, they impacted their world and became living conduits for the Gospel. Keep in mind, this all didn't occur within some neo-eden. This occurred with in the Roman province of Judea, the powder keg of the empire.

In community, not only are we strengthened and encouraged, we receive the blessing and opportunity to strengthen and encourage our brother and sisters. We rob ourselves, and God, if we simply cloister ourselves away in our moatless castles in SubMaj.

So what is the sum of the matter? We may be firmly planted in the mad kingdom of Suburbia Majora. We may whine, whinge and moan about our lots and our commutes. Yet the Almighty has made a way and provided a model for community, sanity and joy for his his kids. Regardless whether we're a Northern California Kiddo, a Biscayne Baby or a Philly Fella, we can live and move in the richness of the one who has called us to glory.

Selah

2 comments:

jmw said...

So how do we practically combat this in day to day life?

jmw said...

So how do we practically combat this in day to day life?