What comes to mind when you think of community? Peaceful, friendly, honest, cooperative, encouraging, supportive, safe, crime-free—these are just a few of the positive words and images we often associate with community. However, is this our reality?

One need only listen to, watch, or read the news to see that the world around us often reflects the opposite of these ideals.

What Is Community?

A brief etymological search reveals multiple interpretations of the word “community.” At its core, the most fitting definition seems to be embedded in the word itself: common-unity—people living and working together for the common good. But is this what we experience today?

In modern culture, the term “community” has been reduced to little more than a description of people living in the same geographic area. It no longer implies that they know, like, support, or share a common purpose and ethos with one another. Why is that?

The Loss of Shared Values

One possible reason is that we lack a shared set of values that acknowledges the intrinsic worth of every human being—created in the image of God. We fail to fully grasp God’s love for us and His desire that we love one another, with our leaders setting the example.

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment in Mark 12, He responded:

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

Loving God and Loving Others: An Inseparable Bond

There is something striking about Jesus’ response—He combines these two commandments into one, making them inseparable: Love God and love others.

But how well is this principle being lived out? We see people who claim to love God yet struggle to love their fellow human beings. Conversely, there are those who show great love for others but do not acknowledge, let alone love, God.

In truth, it is possible to love others without loving God. However, it is impossible to truly love God and not love people—because God loves people. Those who love God will naturally love what He loves. If only our leaders embodied this, would we be facing the level of global division and strife that we see today?

Love and Serve Others

In 1 Corinthians 13, often called the “love chapter” of the Bible, the apostle Paul declares that of faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love. He goes on to describe 16 characteristics of love, each one centred on serving others:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Paul’s words follow his description of true community in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7:

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone, it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

Though this passage was written specifically to followers of Jesus, it describes an ideal community—one where all people live, love, and serve for the common good. Isn’t that the kind of community we all long for?

A Call to True Community

True community is one where people submit to the common good, and where leaders prioritize mutual benefit over partisan and personal gain. Our Creator has entrusted us with the responsibility of building true community—one founded on love, stewardship, and service to one another.

If we embraced this vision, what kind of world would we have?