This is a guest post by my daughter Meagan McIntyre. If you would like to be a guest blogger for Attempts at Honesty, please check out our guest post guidelines.
Life is quite an adventure. On Memorial Day I experienced one of the biggest adventures in my life during a trip through a ropes course, and not long ago Mark (who also happens to be my father) wrote a blog post, On the Ropes…Intentionally, about this family adventure. Our trek through the tops of the trees is a perfect metaphor for life: life is a risky, sometimes painful adventure, and Christians have the joy of knowing that God will be with us through the entire process.
The ropes course also taught me a valuable lesson about the church, a group of people who have made the risky choice to follow Christ; we take the risk to commit to Christ and then journey together and encourage each other along the way.
In much the same way, those of us on the ropes course had made the risky choice to climb the ladder. Whether we liked it or not, we had to work together to finish the course. Thinking back, I am positive that I could not have made it to the end without those around me. The constant encouragement, correction and love from my family and friends made the terrifying ropes course a fun, and funny, adventure.
Sometimes it is easy to think of the Christian life as a solo trek that eventually brings us to heaven, yet thankfully God knows we need community. Just as I needed those around me on the ropes course, I do not think it is either possible or healthy to journey alone as a Christian.
This reminds me of the words of the author of Hebrews: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10: 23-25)
Praise God for the church community which helps us through this risky adventure of life.
Planting Potatoes says
June 8, 2013 at 10:42 AMthanks for sharing….very good read. I agree 100% I don’t believe God saved us just as individuals…but saved us to be part of a family community.
danielpulliam says
June 8, 2013 at 9:15 AMI appreciate your emphasis on community. The “solo trek”mentality is dominant… especially in American Christianity. I’m learning to live and love in community. We all comprise the body of Jesus, not just one of us. Thanks so for sharing this!
Kevin Sine says
June 7, 2013 at 11:27 AMGreat post Meagan! Great reminder that church is about community to encourage each other and to keep each other accountable. Good use of the verse in Hebrews.
Meagan McIntyre says
June 7, 2013 at 8:46 PMThanks Kevin! That verse in Hebrews is one of my favorites, so it was fun to write about an experience that illustrated it’s message.
Bridget Yorke says
June 7, 2013 at 7:34 AMI journey alone as a Christian in Paris because the churches here are social clubs, people come to church drenched in perfume and tight pants with dangling earings, they are in such a hum drum routine it makes me ill to sit there, so am I unhealthy as a child of God? I dont feel so, I persue Him with all my heart and He feeds me, I came out of HER. What can I do if I dont find a christian community? How is it a lot of unsaved people are kinder and more caring than the judgemental holier than thou church goers?
Kevin Sine says
June 7, 2013 at 11:25 AMSometimes you can find community online and you can grow with other believers that way. But keep looking locally as well, there may be others near you that feel the same way
Meagan McIntyre says
June 7, 2013 at 8:36 PMBridget, thanks for your comment. It’s a good reminder that sometimes Christian community is not always available or healthy. My blog post was written to illustrate what I believe community should look like, and sadly it often falls far from that ideal. I am so glad that God is providing encouragement and strength in your life, and I will pray for the church in Paris!