Elusive Community: Why Do We Avoid What We Were Created For?

by Jon Zens, Skeeter Wilson (Foreword)

It is hoped that the various perspectives provided in Elusive Community will stir you up to seek Jesus about connecting His life in you with His life in others. Father, Son and Spirit have always been an ongoing community. They created human beings for community and belonging. Humans are relational at their core. But sin has come and wrecked relationships in untold ways. Many have come to view relationships like the thorns that came after Adam and Eve's errant behavior. But Jesus by His cross created a New Humanity, a New Species, a Third Race where loving, accepting and safe communities emerged everywhere the Gospel was preached. These communities were far from perfect, but they were also far from functioning like earthly organizations. Taking their cue from Jesus, they were lovingly counter-cultural. May you be encouraged to be in step with Jesus' heart for His people to be in community, to be a display of His Kingdom now to the principalities and powers!

Genres: Christian

72 pages, Paperback

Published April 21, 2020

Reviews

[Timothy L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am enjoying this very crisp book. Jon is perhaps at the peak of his career in this volume. He lays an axe at the giant spiritual sequoia, which seems to effected and incapacity many of us. This book could not come at a more necessary time and the world around us continues to divide into madness. We all desperately need "a place" where true community can grow, enrich and protect us from the growing insanity of the times in which we live. Read, press in and find both God and a renewed reality of community. It is waiting for us if we have the faith and tenacity put aside pettiness and thin skinnedness, which keeps us from seeing God's purpose for a functioning and vibrant community. This book is not an encouragement to meaningless mutual admiration society, go along to get along. The read is like settling back into a cool, swirling wilderness stream in the morning as the morning's fog slowly burns off to reveal the stunning beauty around us God has created. Take hold of community like you brave a cool scenic dip.

[Selwyn Brathwaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight

I think this book goes to the heart of what is necessary for the body of Christ to recapture its credibility. This pandemic has exposed our shortcomings and overwhelming dependence on a model of church that has proven to be a religious remake of European colonization which had little to do with the true Christ culture. For many who have become inoculated by this practice it may have been well intentioned but I think at the end of the day the equality of humanity that Jesus came to established unfortunately too many of those who needed to benefit were deprived and are still being deprived of the opportunity. As a leader myself this has brought me to a juncture which is a strategic inflection point. This book is not threatening or critical but just giving us a picture of what true ecclesia should look like and what is glaringly absent. A must read for those who are wired to be change agents

[Vito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent treatment on the community life of the body of Christ. Powerful arguments that leave on edified and encouraged. Recommended with enthusiasm. Get the author's other books also. Zens is a master scholar and historian with a powerful pen.

[MICHAEL ABBOTT · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has always been a need of humanity. Zens has a good sense for the need of community as The Father intended.