"Those who see, let them see, Lord."
"Where there is no UNITY, there is no COMMUNITY."
Psalm 133:1 "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!"
What is Community?
The word community originates from Latin communitas:
• com- meaning "together"
• munis/munus meaning "service, duty, or gift"
Community simply means living life together and helping each other. Imagine our home in Cape Town or anywhere else in Africa - people living close by, supporting one another, sharing meals, celebrating together, and looking after each other in tough times. This is real community. It’s not just being neighbors; it’s about having a shared heart, purpose, and identity. In a real community, we use our gifts to serve each other. It’s about helping your neighbor fix their roof, comforting someone who lost a loved one, sharing food when someone is hungry, or celebrating a wedding or birth together. Real community creates trust and friendships that last. Without this connection and care, we're not a community - we're just individuals living separately.
What is Separation?
Separation comes from the Latin separatio, from separare:
• se- = apart
• parare = to prepare or make ready
Separation means dividing or
pulling apart. It’s the opposite of community. When we separate emotionally,
spiritually, or physically, we break the unity that God wants us to have.
Separation can cause loneliness, pain, and loss of purpose. Think of a prisoner
who is separated from society as a form of punishment. This separation causes
emotional and social distress because humans are meant to be connected, to
belong, and to share life together. Separation, therefore, can also symbolize
punishment or consequence, emphasizing that community is essential to our
wellbeing and spiritual health.
What is Isolation?
Isolation derives from Latin insula meaning island, evolving into Italian isolare ("to make into an island"), and eventually into English as isolation -meaning to cut off or set apart. Isolation means being alone, disconnected like an island.
Genesis 2:18 "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"
Isolation differs greatly from solitude, as solitude has purpose for spiritual renewal. Isolation, however, creates purposeless emotional and spiritual loneliness, increasingly encouraged by digital interactions that isolate individuals, rather than truly connecting them.
Heaven: True Community with God
Heaven represents divine authority, presence, and perfect unity:
• Psalm 115:3 "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him."
• Matthew 6:9 "This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’"
• Revelation 21:3–4 "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'"
• John 14:2–3 "My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
Earth was created with
abundance, and Heaven reflects that even more perfectly. In Heaven, there is no
lack - everything needed is freely provided. It is a safe and peaceful place,
where the young and old alike can walk freely, without fear. Everyone lives in
harmony, fully united with God and each other. Heaven is where God's peace
reigns, and there is complete joy, security, and eternal wellbeing.
"But seek first his kingdom
and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33
Community in Scripture
True community as modeled by the early church:
• Acts 2:42–47 "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer... All believers were together, sharing everything in common... They broke bread in homes and ate with glad hearts."
• Galatians 6:2 "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, fulfill the law of Christ."
• John 13:34–35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples."
• Psalm 133:1 "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!"
• Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
True community is practical, spiritual, active, and deeply relational.
Framework of Life:
1. God
2. Heaven & Earth
3. Plant Life / Animal Life
4. Human Life (Spirit, Soul, Body)
5. God's Systems (Kingdom, Order, Purpose)
6. Human Systems (Governments, Economies, Culture)
7. Binary Code (The law of Logic Gates: AND/OR)
8. Internet (Web, Data, Networks)
9. Social Media (Internet Community)
Life flows from God downward. Our ancestors lived close to God within Eden, surrounded by nature and trees, where God walked among them. As we moved further away from God's original design, we've created complex human systems, technology, and now social media, leading to greater disconnection. Social media often draws us into a false reality, disconnecting us from genuine relationships and the natural order God intended. To regain true connection and purpose, we must return to the simplicity and natural order of life, bringing us closer to God.
Your 24 Hours: Building Which Community?
Every day, you have exactly 24 hours - no more, no less. How you choose to spend these hours reveals the community you're actively nurturing:
• God’s Community:
- Time in prayer, meditation, and reading Scripture.
- Genuine face-to-face interaction, building meaningful relationships and providing practical support.
- Serving your family, friends, and neighbors with intentional acts of kindness and love.
- Investing time in personal growth, health, and activities aligned with spiritual and eternal purposes.
• Internet Community:
- Hours scrolling through social media, driven by instant gratification and superficial validation.
- Engaging in endless debates and absorbing fragmented opinions that offer no real transformation.
- Encouraging a false sense of connection that often leaves you feeling more isolated.
- Chasing short lived online trends that offer no lasting value or depth.
Remember, the digital community appears attractive but remains fragile, superficial, and temporary. It lacks the authenticity, accountability, and genuine presence of true community.
Closing:
The real world is Heaven meeting Earth - raising generations, sowing truth, and leading others into God’s light. Reject digital bondage. Choose true community and eternal purpose.
"Those who see, let them see, Lord."