Community: Because God Did
We can’t be our best alone.
That’s right; this is coming from someone who tests 97% as an introvert on any Myers-Briggs or introvert personality tests. As much as I love my time alone (and I really, really do), I am not my best self when I curl up on myself.
Don’t get me wrong - there is a time and a place for rest. Rest, silence, and solitude are absolutely critical for anyone’s well-being regardless of whether you are an extravert or an introvert. You can read more about slowing down in my recent blog posts, “Making Space” and “Living Within the Margins.”
What I’m talking about today is the other side of that coin: Community.
It is only by rubbing shoulders with people every single day that we are sharpened into better human beings. It is no secret that human beings are unique among creatures for their ability to form intricate personal connections and engage in complex social interactions. Other creatures, like those others of the primate variety, also demonstrate depth of social interaction, but humanity has somehow transcended animalistic sociality.
Theologian Daniel Migliore describes humanity’s being “made in the image of God” as a reflection of God’s perfect, Triune love between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our innate need for community and social connection (above that of other animals) reflects the neverending communion of the Triune God. “To confess that God is triune is to affirm that God exists in communion far deeper than the relationships and and partnerships we know in our human experience.” (Migliore, Faith Seeking Understanding, 80) This is a basic tenet of the Christian faith.
This means that God did not and does not need human interaction.
He does not need us. God exists perfectly outside of time and is perfectly unified in love with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - Three Persons and One God. Before you think that this is terribly narcissistic, I want to clarify an old Greek word often used in Trinitarian theology, perichoresis, which means “mutual indwelling” or “being-in-one-another.” It contains the same root word as our English word “choreography.” So one might think of God as eternally participating in a dance of trinitarian love in which each member of the Trinity selflessly gives life and love to the others. Humbly and vulnerably giving self in enduring love.
And then God created human beings. Why?
Humanity is invited to join in the dance - in wonderfully loving and inclusive communion with God. But we do not dance alone. If God was perfectly united in communion with the Triune God, doesn’t it make sense that His people would be called to reflect His image in being united in communion with all of His created beings? Of course, I am talking communion with all of creation - the land, animals, birds, and plants - but primarily with other human beings.
There is a reason why the first man found a suitable partner in the woman - not simply for procreation, but because she was like him in his ability and desire for social connection.
We are not like God. We need human connection.
We may need only a handful of good friends, but we do need them. We need them to listen to us and for us to listen to them. We need them in order to breed love and empathy for those who are unlike ourselves. We need them for their insights and wisdom that we may not have considered. We need their support, their love, and their joy.
When we live in community with others, life happens. It requires vulnerability and trust (which can be terrifying). But in opening ourselves to others, we uncurl our lonely selves and begin to bloom in their light. We reflect our Triune God and He smiles at us.
For more reading, check out:
Migliore, Daniel L. Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., third edition, 2014.
