Academic Connections, International

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Scripture and Brief Thoughts

     It wouldn’t be nearly sufficient to call this the “purpose driven” part of building faculty communities (fellowships) at universities.  That is, unless as a part of that purpose you have committed to building relationally driven communities.  

     But what does that mean?

     It means that divine and human relationships are very near to the heart of what we’re doing.  We see the relational element in the great and foremost commandment:t

Matt. 22:37  ¶ Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

Matt. 22:38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

Matt. 22:39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matt. 22:40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

     We see our relationship with God is paramount, but also our relationships with others as very important.  What good would it do to accomplish the task of preaching the gospel to others or building large and “successful” Christian faculty communities if we fail to love God and care about people?  (Compare with 1st Corinthians 13: 1ff.)

     All this, however, is easier said (and maybe even understood) than done.  Loving God and loving people as ourselves is the task of life and it fits into all that we are and do.  It is by grace we grow in this pursuit, but something important and challenging (given our fallen natures) that doesn’t just happen accidentally.  It takes intentional awareness and periodic evaluation, but isn’t ending up as a person who first and foremost loves God with all one’s heart, mind and soul and also the kind of person who loves one’s neighbor as oneself the kind of person we REALLY want to be?

     We believe it is.

     So let’s look at this task of building a Christian faculty community as an exercise to allow God to shape us in this way and form our habits and character.  If we keep that in mind, we will be sooooo far ahead of the curve.  It’s so easy to get our minds and heads around a million other things that will not bring about this end.  By God’s grace, our faith, and our obedience to this grace will allow us to progress and grow on the path to creating a purpose and relationally driven community.  Then not only will we end up in the right place with us being the right kind of people, we can rejoice in the journey as well.