I am a college student at Oregon State University living in a Christian house. I knew for the last several years that this was where I wished to be after having a brother go through this same house and finding it a blessing to him spiritually. It seemed like a perfect fix to counter the college culture that consumes my classmates; a culture of drinking, sex, success, and a fundamental neglect of a greater purpose. And to the point of the house being a blessing, I was right. I live with so many great men of God, those whose identities are rooted in the gospel of Jesus and who are filled with love for God and their neighbors. There are assigned mentors, worship nights, small groups, and service activities that one does not have to try in order to get involved. It is pretty much an ideal setup, all that your general church has to offer in a house full of 50 guys.
So why, tell me, was it that after a couple of weeks, when the mystic began to fade, I was left feeling unengaged. The initial excitement about this perfect college environment to grow my faith was fading. Okay, so maybe my expectations were slightly unrealistic. After all, if I was ever going to “program” my way to the idealistic version of a Christian, I would’ve done so after 20 years in the church.
You see, despite living in a place full of fellow believers, similar to the disciples I might add, I was not engaging with those around me in a manner of fellowship that is described in Acts 2:42. And in all honesty, I’m cynical about that. I envy what the early church had. It was a beautiful renaissance of truth, hope, love, and incredibly exciting with Jesus as the centerpiece. This is what I desired and still desire; some sort of providence that lies untouched by the sin of the world.
Now I understand that Jesus corrected Peter on the mountain post-transfiguration when Peter pretty much said “Jesus, let us stay here and dwell in the holiness,” but it was not time for that. For Jesus still had more left to do and so did Peter, and so do the rest of us. We are told to live in the world but not for the world. I suppose the providence I long for and was made for will have to wait.
But as for the house, I have realized I lived in some kind of haze of romanticism, falsely thinking the house was not a product of the world. I know that it is, after all, I am sinful and I live here. Simply put, this faith that my housemates and I share has become less of a fundamental piece of our relationship with one another and more of a commonality, something that is touched upon every now and then.
In many ways, my house is much like a church body. We have members, doctrine, events, and groups. And as this house was built to bring community to believers and light to the Corvallis area, so is this the role of the church. And like what I have come to learn about the brokenness of the house, the church experiences this too. For most of us, at least once in our lives, the church we have attended or currently attend, has slipped into this groove of apathy and has become more like a rec center. A place where people meet out of obligation which coincidently happens to have bibles and a cross on the front of the building. Sure, this is a little harsh, but I do not think the truth is stretched.
I’ve come to realize that what I desire in most of my relationships with the others in this house is intentionality: intentionality about discipleship, about praying together, about serving one another, about pouring into others, and being open to being encouraged and poured into. This is my role as much as it is the role of any other housemate of mine.
I have begun to understand my conviction to help establish this culture of intentionality and activating others in their faith not just because I feel a need for it in my own life, though true, but because our God who rules with authority has told us to do so. As much as I would like to bring news of praise to you all saying I have done this faithfully, I cannot. And as much as I would like to share with you the most effective ways to be intentional in your relations, I know not. So this message, for those systematically minded people, might seem vague in terms of the purpose behind my writing. But my intention was this: to encourage you, as I learn myself, to live with intentionality in our relationships with those in our church and community so that our shared faith does not become a convenient similarity, but rather a rudimentary and living factor in the relationships we have. I hope we learn to do so together.
Biblical Reflection:
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. // Acts 2:42-44
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