Radical Disciples – A Remnant Revolution

Can 21st century Christians in America adopt a Communal life style?

You might think that communes are something that became extinct back in the sixties and seventies. Actually, many people live communally today, in intentional communities, Eco-villages, group marriages, co-ops, ashrams, co-housing groups, even in survivalist and radical religious colonies.

Communal living is an excellent choice for people who enjoy deep, intimate companionship with more than one person. It is often very difficult to form and maintain a healthy, mutually satisfying and beneficial relationship with the random assortment of personalities that comprise a typical family. An intentional community can be looked at as a “chosen family,” in the respect that it is made up of people who came together intentionally based on “commonalties” other than biological (or adoptive) accident. An intentional community differs from a family in the important respect that no one in an intentional community will ever legitimately feel “stuck” with it.

Thus, communal living can supply people whose conventional family relationships are dysfunctional or nonexistent with the best a family has to offer, a circle of connected, loving co-experiences with whom to share life.

There can be practical advantages to communal living. Often, a member of an expense-sharing group can live more cheaply than a single person can. People who live in group housing are freer to travel, as there are always going to be others about to water plants, take in the mail, pay the bills, keep company to those who stay behind, and so on. Most important, an intentional community is a social network. The chances are good that someone will usually be available to go out for lunch; to share a movie; to look over a final draft; to try the lunch seasoning; to listen to a cool idea; to join in on a magnificent undertaking; to take a walk in the sunset; to practice a sport or hobby; to fall in love with; to learn and to teach something to.

Obviously, communal living can never be as private as a person’s own home. However, parameters can be set to maximize the possibility that adequate privacy will be available for those who sometimes require it. People who need a lot of privacy probably do not belong in a communal setting. People who thrive on human interaction probably do.

Communal living is a remarkably viable means for enriching our lives with interpersonal adventure and fun. As a group we have the resources, practical and personal, to actualize the very best of what we can imagine. After all as a group we will know more than individually we could. The sharing and maximizing of resources will improve greatly our quality of life as well as healing our planet.

Instead of owning many of any one product, we will own less, but share a wider range of items. Communal living can be a potent and powerful medium for free, creative, experimental, sustainable, ecological, and fulfilling way of life. By pooling our money, creativity, skills, assets, ideas and resources; and thereby supplying our basic needs through communal energies, we find there are both an abundance of all things available to us all, and an optimization in the efficiency of their use. For example, sharing the use of automobiles, and making a communal dinner each evening. One car can serve numerous people, thus requiring fewer of them; and not only does everyone get a wholesome, nutritious meal each night, but they also only have to cook and cleanup once a month, or less, for example and then only as part of a team.

We believe that together we will achieve things we never, in our singularlives would have dreamed of – for example: operating large natural, shops, bakeries, production of tinctures, teas and organic herbs, writing and performing music-the possibilities are endless.

With this concept in mind, I believe Christians in America truly need to research and pray ore about this. The pressure of the world to live like the Jones must be put to rest. The American dream of individualism has raised havoc in the Christian community at large. There are by far more pro’s to such a life style than con’s when looking at it from a broader spectrum than on the basis of individualism

Children can be taught in these setting and receive a Spiritual foundation as well as high academic standards, which are being lost more and more in public school. Families no longer have to seek outside help when and if they face illnesses which can greatly tap into ones personal finances. As well people can still keep their individual identities as a “Family” unit well sharing in the over all groups needs.

The thoughts of cult is running thru many a mind right now as you read this and such a setting can surely present itself. But if group of people sworn to the doctrines of Christ can live daily being led of the Spirit, these worries can put to rest. If we will take the example of the early church and throw the “Pastor” image of the world out the door we will find that indeed, Holy Ghost can move and thrive among a group of elders to release a true peace that come with a loving community.

The economic future of America is becoming more and more unstable and many Christians are fainting in the heart as these uncertainties are being broadcast. Now when we start living in the true power of fellowship and dependence upon the Lord these fears are cast down. Is it a sacrifice to think of living such a life style? To the flesh, by all means, yet to the spirit, there is a hunger and godly desire for such a life style.

If we really believe that living such a life style is impossible, then we really need to look at the New Testament and wonder if the teachings there in are truth or merely fairy-tales.

When we look at some of the Christians in such cultures as China, the former USSR and Africa, and South America we find a bond amongst the believers because they have learned not only to trust in the Father, they have learned to depend upon one another, that each is living the life that Christ calls us too live – That of loving our neighbor as our selves. You’d be surprised to learn that such groups even live here in our country already

Things to ponder friends as we face more and more crisis here in America and nations around the world. Are we prepared for the coming persecution, or are we still turning a blind eye to that happening here. The thought of food, fuel and other shortages in our Country is on the horizon, not speaking as a prophet of doom, rather as one who desires peoples eyes to be opened, that they be not like the five virgins and be caught without their lamps full.

Is this a radical idea, to far out there or uneasy to swallow? Possble, yet when we look to the heavens and fully trusting in the Father to birth in us an ability to live with and love each other as a testimony to the world – we might just realize that radical times in this world demand radical Christianity to arise to the forefront!