Last weekend I took my daughter to the SXSW Gaming Expo in Austin. It wasn’t something I cared about going to, but she offered to buy my ticket, so I couldn’t refuse. I am so glad I went. There she found new games and companies she was interested in. I found something I didn’t expect to find – an authentic example of community.
Here were hundreds of people gathered together because they had one interest – gaming. There were young and old, all races, different cultures, male and female gathered in one place. All they saw in each other was another gamer. This was a place of acceptance for anyone and everyone. I witnessed conversations between strangers, between competitors, between everyone. No one was a stranger. They were all gamers and it was beautiful.
This community embraced all because all were embracing the same interest.
Isn’t this how the church should be? We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Our love should reach out to others, building and inspiring community – community without borders, physical or virtual. We should embrace all and share the love of Christ.
We are all His according to His promises. Just as it says in Galatians 3:28- 29, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
My challenge to my readers is to build community. It can be as simple as asking a question. Look to Jesus for your perfect example:
“Will you give me a drink?” (John 4:7)
Raelyn Pracht 