Wanting Too Much

The great Christian thinker, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, said in Life Together,

He who loves his dream of community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial.

Perhaps the problem with many small groups in many churches is that they become overwhelmed with a fantastical vision that quickly becomes an idol. Instead of worshipping God, we worship the community. We look to the community to save us and feed us and love us. While a community can help do those things, it's God who should be adored - not our wish for the ideal community. That idolized dream destroys the reality. When a member dreams that everyone will become close friends who vacation together, they put too much pressure on the budding friendships and destroy the group. When a member voices his longing to see enormous life change week after week after week, they destroy the group that is helping people change a little here and there. When a member fantasizes about a group giving up every Saturday to serve they wreck the group that is beginning to serve. It's time to leave the idol on the porch, and experience the group we have. As undreamy as it might be.