How to Start & Build Jesus-following Community (and how to influence a culture) according to the Bible//By Jenna Garrison

Jesus was Jewish, everyone knows that–and his followers were Jews. The Jews were meant to be a people set apart. Any trade route would have to pass through Israel, and the Jews would be there to share God with them, both through what they said as well as how they acted and followed the Law. They were specifically told not to co-mingle with others, because God’s purpose was for them to be a people set apart for His glory.
However, at the time Jesus came around, most of Jewish tradition was all mixed up. There was such a variety within the people of God as to what to do and how much to follow. They had begun to look like “everyone else” by adapting different gods and being swayed from what Moses had established.
There was one group, whose writings were found in a cave (The Dead Sea Scrolls), the Essenes. The Essenes led a strictly celibate and communal life — often compared by scholars to later Christian monastic living. They had customs and observances such as collective ownership, elected a leader to attend to the interests of them all whose orders they obeyed, were forbidden from swearing oaths, and sacrificing animals, controlled their temper and served as channels of peace, had no slaves but served each other and, as a result of communal ownership, did not engage in trading. There are lengthy accounts of their communal meetings, meals and religious celebrations. A commitment to practice piety towards “the Deity” and righteousness towards humanity, to maintain a pure life-style, to abstain from criminal and immoral activities, to transmit their rules uncorrupted and to preserve the books of the Essenes and the names of the Angels. Their theology included belief in the immortality of the soul and that they would receive their souls back after death. Part of their activities included purification by water rituals, which was supported by rainwater catchment and storage.
These guys fled the Jewish traditions going on in the main hub of Sephhoris, to separate themselves. They also had a great longing for the Messiah to come and were looking towards the end of the world.
Again, insert Jesus: He came with radical ideas that most people were opposed to, except the band of loyal followers he rounded up. One very poignant episode that exposes the culture of the Jews was when Jesus turned tables over in the temple. Sick of what the Jews had allowed God’s house to become, Jesus pretty much yelled at them and trashed the place.
All this to say, people were pretty confused. But, they still identified themselves as Jews and participated in the worship and sacrifice of Judaism. Jesus started calling them to do things that were opposite of the law. Fast forward, Jesus died, rose again, peaced out, and filled his followers with the Holy Spirit.
Now, left to their own devises, what would they do? I am particularly fond of Paul for what comes next. The Jesus movement, was most certainly a sect or branch of Judaism. They were not trying to leave, but rather incorporate this new chapter of faith into what was already going on. However, this failed miserably. The Jesus followers weren’t able to convince most of the Jews and so became quite a small portion of Judaism. There came to be a great many struggles and strains which led the Jesus people farther from their roots. (I think its interesting that today, Christians and Jews are seen as opposites, but back then, really all they wanted to do was keep being Jewish but follow the Messiah.) Some of the issues that came up, i hope to delve into more specifically as i search the scripture. But off the top of my head: How much to hold onto from Jewish tradition. Circumcision. Gentiles and Pagans. (Jesus held out faith for anyone who would believe. And for the early Christians, that meant converting pagans and gentiles to become Jews! And then secondly follow Jesus’ teachings.)
So, on top of being confused as Jews, now these radicals were also confused of what place they had in Judaism, and what they were supposed to value as a community. I see the parallel of fumbling faithfuls around me today. The struggles of a new Christian; seeing how they start to peel off the layers of bad habits, adjusting to those around them; Having their actions and thoughts judged by the surrounding well-adjusted Christians. Thankfully (depending on how you look at it), most new Christians are thrust into a totally new culture, where they are mentored and nurtured and quite easily adapt to a community that they admire and strive to be like. This early sanctification process is often messy and confusing. “What’s the right thing to do?” “Can I do this anymore?” “Can I hang out with them now?”
Instead of joyfully accepting them as they are, and watching by as Jesus does the dirty work of transformation, we jump right in and start the makeover, tweaking and correcting so as to mesh peacefully with our already established rules, regulations, and values. In no such way can you have faith without being like “us”, who are just like “them” of our parents and grandparents.
And what is to make of a group who most nearly are all new Christians, or wavering ones? How do they bounce off each other and what are the values held in a community that is all trying to figure it out together? Is it okay to leave them to their own devices? I’ve seen such groups around me, and to be honest, was shocked and appalled at their behavior. I then felt an insurmountable heap of guilt at my judgment.
Through this study I hope to learn about how Paul and his band of buddies trudged out the makings of the Christian faith. How did they decide what was important, and what to let go of? Where was the role of tradition, and of the Holy Spirit? As well, I hope to come to appreciate the sloppy starts of a life of faith, and be filled with a perspective of grace and love towards the groups and individuals that I come in contact with.
Secondly, I hope to discover the true workings of community and culture, and how the great radical leaders of the Bible actually influenced many. How did a little group of radicals withstand centuries of persecution, and what explains the steadfastness of the first followers of Christ? I am very excited to find out.

Thirdly, (I am rather ambitious) I hope to find out how to examine the values of the communities that I am a part of, and how I can influence those groups in the direction that I feel God is leading us to go. This all might be very basic stuff, studied and documented by tons of other people, I have no doubt. But I am pumped to do it for myself and see what God shows me through the whole process.

Also, (phew!) I want to look at these groups who seem to have it all together. Are we really any better off? Is there an advantage to being squeaky clean with all the kinks worked out? Or are we missing out on the richness of authenticity and from-the-ground-up hard work?

After i’m done this maybe i’ll write a book. Or just another blog