Don’t Go Solo—Play with Others

Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (NASB)

Whenever we think about studying the Word of God, we often think of it as a solo project. I have to know the Lord for myself. I have to work out my own salvation. I have to hide the word of God in my heart. All of this is true, but in today’s passage, we also learn that there is a place for community in our pursuit of knowing God’s Word.

One way the word of Christ dwells in us is through teaching and counselling one another and corporate singing. This might occur in formal settings like church services, prayer meetings, or bible study groups, but it can also happen at coffee shops, on WhatsApp, or in a park. In a world that is becoming increasingly individualist and where people are choosing to do church online, it is important for us to remember that the Christianity of the New Testament was never a solo affair. It was always practiced in community. Even Jesus Christ, God in flesh, had a community.

Many of us who live in settings where we can openly attend a church, Bible study group, or express our Christianity in some other communal way often take community for granted. We sometimes downplay its significance and forget that our brothers and sisters in some parts of the Persecuted Church would count it a privilege and honour to be part of the communities we reject and ignore.

Questions for reflection: How am I engaging with the Word of God with others? How can I help others engage in the Word of God in community? Have I prayed for the community of the Global Church specifically, or the Persecuted Church? Am I ignoring or rejecting the Christian communities around me?