by Arthur G. Gish
Christian community is a result of surrendering our lives to God’s kingdom. Our commitment to our brothers and sisters is an expression of our commitment to God and his will for our lives. Membership in Christian community involves a serious claim of God upon our lives. In Christian community this claim is recognized and accepted. Christian community is not like a service club which competes with other groups for the loyalty of its members. Commitment must be total. To participate in the kingdom of God we must give up all loyalties and commitments that in any way conflict with our commitment to God.
True community is not just an association of individuals but a deep, shared existence where all is committed and given. There is always a cost—giving up something else, choosing one path over another. Yet, the greater the sacrifice, the more significant the reward. Those who invest little receive little. The success of intentional communities hinges on the strength of their members' commitments. Commitment in Christian community means forsaking self-interest for the greater good, investing personally, and linking one's future to that of the community.
However, Christian commitment is not about what the community provides us but about surrendering ourselves to the new life God calls us to. We must be prepared not only to live for one another but also to die for one another. Just as knowing Christ requires dying to self (Phil. 3:7–11), entering God’s kingdom necessitates the death of the old self. Only through surrender can we become the new people we are meant to be.
One of the greatest obstacles to doing God’s will is our unwillingness to give up control. Many want to serve God while retaining authority over their own lives, instructing Him on how to assist their plans. Too often, our prayers focus on seeking divine strength to fulfill our own desires. But true surrender means allowing God’s will to become our own. As Paul declared, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). Only when we fully offer ourselves to God can we experience His power, victory, and freedom. Those with nothing to lose are most free to be faithful.
God continually asks more of us than we think possible. Even after giving everything, we find Him calling us to deeper surrender. Yet, with each sacrifice, He grants us unexpected strength. Surrender is required not only in hardship but also in prosperity. The Christian calling is a cross upon which our desires, ambitions, and possessions must be laid down. Clinging to even the smallest thing can be as obstructive as the pride of the wealthiest person.
This surrender is not just external but encompasses our innermost selves. The German word Gelassenheit captures this: surrender, yieldedness, let-go-ness, defenselessness, resignation, vulnerability, serenity, and peace. It is the meekness of those broken by the Spirit. Such surrender affirms rather than negates the self, recognizing God’s love and care. How liberating to no longer need to be at the center, to be right, or to prove ourselves! True freedom comes from abandoning the illusion of control and allowing God to be at the center of our lives.
We often attempt to create a world centered on ourselves, manipulating circumstances to fit our desires. Sometimes, we make room for God in our plans, but rarely do we give Him control. This self-made reality, however, leads only to frustration, alienation, and despair. We were never meant to be at the center—only God is. Our place is to gather around Him, living in peace with others and creation. This is the foundation of Christian community. Only when our rebellious, self-centered wills are broken by the Spirit can we authentically participate in community and receive what God desires to give us.
When King Uzziah died, Isaiah’s hopes were shattered, yet it was then that God spoke to him (Isa. 6:1). Similarly, the more we are broken, the more receptive we become to God’s will and to our brothers and sisters. We cannot relinquish self-will by our own power, for even that requires self-will. Instead, we must allow God to take it away. The goal is not to strive for humility but to be humbled by our relationship with God. As we are broken, we become less self-obsessed and more available for God’s work.
Faith and community are difficult because we refuse to surrender. Whether it is secret sins, pride, ambition, or intellect, the greatest obstacle to community is the unwillingness to yield our will. It is hard to let go of our opinions, stubbornness, and self-assuredness. It is difficult to pray sincerely, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” One can give away all possessions yet still cling to self-will. The struggle is daily, presenting repeated choices about whether we will live in love.
We must confront our own selfishness. Without doing so, our communities will merely mirror the society we seek to leave behind. It is insufficient to reject the materialism of the larger world; we must also allow our inner selves to be transformed. The life of the community must reflect the new life in Christ that has taken root in each member. We cannot carry the corruption of the old society into the new community. True community requires conversion and rebirth.
Only by surrendering all can we fully embrace the new life God offers.
Arthur G. Gish (1939–2010) was an American peace activist, writer, and member of New Covenant Fellowship in Ohio.
This essay was edited for brevity. The original was published by Plough in the book Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants for His People. You may request a free copy of the paperback by emailing ncnplough@gmail.com.