My grampa, Leo Belknap, passed away this morning just after 1 o'clock. He was 91 years old. I'm saddened by his death, obviously. But there is one thing about his passing that fills my heart with joy. Take a few minutes to listen to an interview I had with the guys at Last Words Radio, back in April 2009, to find out why.
One of the marks of a healthy and thriving church community is that vulnerability exists among its members. Vulnerability, need not mean gullibility or susceptibility to abuse, here. Rather, by vulnerability we mean a trusting transparency among members of the community that refuses to hide sins, struggles, idolatry, pain, fears, and needs from others. A posture of vulnerability in community also invites inquiry when there are evidences of attempted concealment of the aforementioned sins, struggles, idolatry, pain, fears, and needs. This creates a contractual space among members for redemptive gospel-centered correction, rebuke, teaching, and healing; understanding that it is God's purpose to gather his Church in community for the sake of their spiritual growth —both personal and corporate— and for the sake of their sanctification. But vulnerability requires accessibility and availability. And if members of the community spend little to no time with one another, outside of the Sunday gathering, then it is doubtful that they will know one another with any significant depth. And if the members of a community do not know one another then it is highly unlikely that vulnerability will exist among them. And if vulnerability does not exist then no one will really know anyone in their church. Sin will go unaddressed and deep wounds will go untreated. This is what you will see if you spend only 2 hours a week with those in your church family, listening to your pastor teach:
This is what you will know about your church family if you intentionally orient your life around the gospel community God has given you: What are some ways that you can foster and encourage vulnerability among your church family?
