From the Guest Editor

Joe Peterson

What you Need to Know about Christian Communities...

And all that believed were together, and had all things common. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
--Acts 2:44-47 (New Testament, Authorized King James Version)

T HUS IS DESCRIBED THE FIRST INTENTIONAL CHRISTIAN community, which existed about 2,000 years ago. The biblical Book of Acts is about these early followers of Jesus of Nazareth, known to Christians as the Lord Jesus Christ, and certain activities, or "acts," that were occurring in that first-generation Christian community.

Some of the Book of Acts describes the followers of Jesus who already had been living together in Jerusalem as a rather unintentional community. In order to survive all that followed as a result of the torture and execution of Jesus, they were huddled together in Jerusalem in fear, themselves also wanted by the authorities. Roman and Jewish officials hoped that the new spiritual movement inspired by Jesus was now over, but 50 days after his execution and resurrection his followers were creating community. Intentional Christian communities have been with us ever since.

In the ensuing 2,000 years, Christian communities in some form or another could be found just about anywhere. Hardly anyone on Earth has not been affected in some way, positively or negatively, by the spread of Christian community and its message. In this issue of Communities, those of us who live in or have lived in Christian communities, as spiritual descendants of the people of Acts 2, will attempt to describe and explain the experience of living in Christian community. However, Christian communities cover a broad spectrum. This issue is not an exercise in comparative theology or religion; it is simply an overview and a sampling of what's out there. Neither the publishers nor myself endorse any one version of Christianity as more accurate or authentic than any another.

Many articles by and about Christian communities (historic and contemporary, firsthand and by outside observers) have appeared in this magazine over its 24-year history. We have made an effort to select representative communities for this issue that have not been significantly featured before. Some of the articles will explain and dispel various myths about Christian communities.

People of Diversity: Divisions and Growth

Christian communities are not all the same and certainly do not all participate in a unified network. One reason for the diversity is what is sometimes called "competition in higher places." It is not uncommon to find communities that have split off from more traditional churches or even from other communities over differences about certain teachings or beliefs. Intentional communities have often had their start in organized Christian churches, and similarly, newly created churches have emerged within intentional Christian communities.

Some Christian communities are not only competitive with their ideas and doctrines, but competitive for members as well. The competition of ideas, doctrines, lifestyles, leadership styles, and so on actually stimulates the growth of Christian communities. This is especially true for the non-Catholic communities. The Catholics have almost always made room for "extremists" by permitting a wide variety of religious orders (e.g., monasteries) for them to join. Protestants have usually seen such extremism as competition, and have kicked their "fanatics" out. These people have formed their own churches, communities, or religions--thus creating the wide variety of religions outside of the traditional Protestant denominations.

For this reason, it is not uncommon to find a Christian community founded on a particular interpretation of the Bible, which its members stress as a reason for their existing independently. This is also why some Christian communities have little contact with each other, even though from an outsider's point of view they may appear to be doing the same things. Only a handful of networks of intentional Christian communities exist--and most of those share the same theological roots, practices, and, sometimes, leaders.

The focus on "right belief" and doctrine especially affects the contact between non-Christian and Christian communities. Some Christian communities are so uninterested in or distrustful of other intentional communities that they decline being listed in the Communities Directory. While these folks certainly live a community lifestyle, they identify far more strongly with the rightness of their beliefs and mission than with being an intentional community as such.

Even so, the phenomenon of widely different scriptural interpretations and the splitting off of new groups contributes to the growth of the Christian communities movement--as it has in all of Christian history--though it may sometimes confound viewers and community seekers. It is not uncommon when visiting a Christian community to be examined about your beliefs, so its members can determine if you are a Christian, or even, the right kind of Christian. For these community members, matters of truth and faith are at stake, and are taken quite seriously, usually more seriously than they may take the idea of community.

The first-generation communities of old faced the same issue. Much of the New Testament is punctuated with such examinations of potential members. Even Jesus was frequently cross-examined by the "set apart community of Bible believers" of his day, the Jewish Pharisees. Such examination of beliefs is all part of taking seriously Jesus' and the New Testament's call to community. Visitors and observers must realize that, in most Christian communities, doctrines and beliefs are significant and should not be taken lightly.

People of the Bible: Community by "The Book"

So, what is a Christian community? What is the common denominator? Essentially, for our purposes here, a Christian community is one that draws some or all of its reason for existing from Jesus Christ in the New Testament of the Holy Bible (be it Protestant, Orthodox, Catholic, Mormon, or some other interpretation). The Bible is the seed of faith from which these many communities spring. This is especially true when the above passage from Acts 2 is interpreted as a biblical prescription   for living a Christian life, as it often is by Christian communities. Not many other such ancient sacred documents are as effective at impregnating people with the concept of community. The Bible is the number one guide for a Christian community, regardless of how it's interpreted.

The Bible is itself rich in the images and language of "tribe" and "community." That's because it is a history and description of actual tribes and communities, idealistically and realistically, imagined and actual. Cover to cover, the Bible is about people pursuing a vision and the resulting rewards, conflicts, and disasters. And it is about the God of these people, and that relationship, and what the result of that relationship will be.

Granted, there are those communities that do utilize Jesus and the Bible to some extent but that do not call themselves "Christian." Perhaps that's in order to separate themselves from some of the more historic, traditional, theological, or enthusiastic Christian communities. Or perhaps they have had unpleasant encounters with Christians.

There are other, non-Christian spiritual and religious communities that also utilize a variety of sacred texts, literature, and rituals, including elements from the Bible. Spiritual and religious communities abound worldwide. Religion, after all, is probably the oldest organized (i.e., "intentional") form of coping on Earth, organizing how we make sense of the unseen forces, how they affect us, how we may influence them, and how they may motivate us.

People of Spirit: Charisma and Leadership

It's not just possession of "The Book," however, that inspires Christian community. In the first few chapters of the Book of Acts, a particular phenomenon is recorded wherein certain individuals exhibited special spiritual gifts, or charisma, to make things happen, inspire others, heal the sick, or receive crucial guidance. (Charisma  is the New Testament Greek word for spiritual gifts given by God.) It's "The Book" and this special spirit   that makes things happen.

Therefore another major element in the creation of Christian communities has been the presence of an individual with charisma, i.e., who has spiritual gifts. These gifted people call others to "be intentional," and these people usually lead the group. Sometimes the person's leadership is self-evident; the individual just has guidance directly from God with no other human intervention or permission required. Sometimes the person's leadership role is bestowed by other people equally gifted to recognize the calling to leadership, which is often called the apostolic approach. This "called" leadership usually works well when it is recognized, welcomed, and tolerated by others in the group.

Some Christian communities are apprehensive about the leadership/charisma  issue, while others are exuberant about it and about their leader(s). Some communities are constantly in conflict with the issue. It often troubles outsiders, too. However, the leadership/charisma  issue is intrinsic to the history of Christianity and to Christian community.

People of Vision: Being Mission-Oriented

"For lack of vision the people perish." So says the sage in the Proverbs of the Old Testament. Leaders are often good at articulating the visions others believe in and pursue. No vision, no followers. No followers, no community. However, in the biblical scheme of things, the gifts of the spirit and the gift of vision are frequently given to the people, too--the followers, the community of believers, or the "called-out ones" (the "church"). Sometimes these gifts of vision result in a positive outcome and sometimes not.

And what do these people follow? More often than not, they follow the works or deeds of Jesus Christ and other significant founders/leaders, either historic or contemporary. Most Christian communities are mission-oriented. Be it healing the sick, fighting oppression, converting lost souls, making disciples, being closer to Jesus, waiting for the second coming (the return of Jesus), or getting "church" or "community" down right, these people are on a mission for God. Thus, when you have the combination of Bible/Jesus/Spirit/Leaders/Vision/Followers/Mission all in the same place with the same people responding, you have the makings for an intentional Christian community. Hallelujah!

A Prolific People: Like the Sands in the Seas

Intentional Christian communities are probably the most prolific of all intentional communities. There are likely thousands   of them, right this moment, experiencing "acts" just like those of Acts 2, and living lives like those described in this issue. We will focus on these more contemporary communities, with a nod of acknowledgment to a few of our faithful predecessors.

I am grateful for the contributions, and appreciate the patience of the many communities that would have liked to be represented here. From all of us who are and have been in Christian community, let me recall Hebrews 6:10: "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love. ... "

We look forward to hearing from other Christian communities, and new communities forming this very moment in the hearts and minds of those "called to be saints." Someday, we hope, these folks will also contribute their stories and insights in future issues of the magazine.

Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Maranatha!

About our Guest Editor: Joe V. Peterson, who became a Christian in 1970, has lived in intentional communities for 32 years. He has been an advisor to the World Council of Churches and is a former board member of both the Communal Studies Association and the Fellowship for Intentional Community.