Martin O'Malley

The church and its community are meant to be relational. Our relationship with the Lord is a two way street, we give and He gives abundantly in return, just as the church and its community work together to continue God’s creation and kingdom on earth. Mark R. Gornik touches on this with his reference to a point made by Robert Linthicum. He expresses that “a church can see itself in relationship to a community in three different ways: as a church in a community, as a church for a community, or as a church with a community” (1). A church that views itself in a community does not engage relationally with it. It does not holistically invest in those around it, thus a wall is built up and ministry becomes very difficult. There is no connectedness or understanding that is vital to forming a bond. A church that views itself as for a community thinks of itself as a hero, as one that sweeps in and saves a corrupt city by imposing its methods and beliefs, rather than humbly experiencing the community it is trying to build a relationship with. Both of these relationships are not ones that will last, because they are not mutual. However, a church that is with a community is. This kind of church-community relationship “becomes one with its neighbors and the struggle” (1). The church seeks to know the community inside and out, and the community seeks the church for empathy and support. This is the same with our relationship with the Lord. The Lord knows us inside and out, and despite knowing our weaknesses, desires to have us fully. We also need the Lord, for He is our refuge and strength. By having mutuality with the church, a community can thus understand the mutuality of our relationship with Christ.

1. Mark R. Gornik, To Live in Peace: Biblical Faith and the Changing Inner City, (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2002), 113.