The Importance of a Faith Community

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!...Where one alone may be overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12)

We live in an individualistic world. However, despite this, we truly do need each other. “It is not good that man should be alone,” (Genesis 2:18). These were the very words of our Creator God. In addition, those around us need the same thing from us – companionship, or community! We need to share our lives with one another, our struggles, our prayers, our hopes, and our joys. We must be ready, in the words of the writer of Hebrews, “to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).

In relation to God’s Word for Warriors and our outreach, veterans returning home from

deployment(s), need a haven, a place they can go for relaxation, to regroup, to receive good news and encouragement, and so be prepared to go back into the community again. This is exactly one of the reasons and purposes of the faith communities that God created. Yet the fact is that many of these veterans have decided that they would be better served if they did not become involved with a faith community. Therefore, they tend to self-isolate, avoiding crowds, and possible uncomfortable situations in churches and with church people.

This lifestyle is obviously a creation of man, not God. Not only this, if veterans self-isolate they rob the community around them of an opportunity to fully benefit from their experiences and talents. Simon and Garfunkel, writing during the Vietnam War, described the isolation our veterans often experience as follows:

Hiding in my room, safe within my womb,

I touch no one and no one touches me.

I am a rock.

I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;

And an island never cries

(Sounds of Silence)

Upon initially going into the military, veterans leave behind their old group of friends and

develop new ones. They establish relationships with fellow veterans in unique ways. They

become conformable with each other’s likes and dislikes; they learn how to react in certain situations, and what makes each other angry or joyful. They have similar priorities and goals and are OK with each other’s hang-ups. They respect each other; depend on each other. But then, they come home and are different. Many can’t seem to be able to reconnect; loud noises send them diving for cover; they fear new places and new stresses. In fact, they seem strange in relation to others. They think no one likes them and begin to think that there is possibly something wrong with them.

So, veterans become isolated and turn away. Social isolation seems like the best option, and it feels more comfortable – at first! It seems easier than dealing with people they don’t understand. However, this isolation is the worse possible move one can make.

Again, we must remember that isolation is against the very basic design objective of our

Creator God. He made us to be communal beings. The faith community was designed

specifically to address the kinds of feelings, these situations of isolation. “It is not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 3:18).

I want us to think for a moment on a passage in the Book of Joshua: “The seven priests

carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord…. When the trumpet sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed… (Joshua 6:13, 23). The walls came tumbling down! Is it now time for us to bring down these invisible walls that veterans are hiding behind (although we can clearly see them), walls that are leading us to avoid bringing veterans into faith communities of some kind?

The question is not, “Does God care?” nor “Do the faith communities care?”

The real question is, “Do I care?”

Do we individually care enough to reach out to where our veterans are? We can provide “glasses” that will help clear the vision and enable others to see and know

that God and faith communities really do care. Attitudes can be changed and perceptions cleared. But to win the battle, we must do more than just talk. We must march, blow our trumpets, and tear down these walls. And, as Jesus states in Luke 6:41, “Why do you, (Tom Seals), look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers’ eyes and pay no attention to the log in your own?”

When we allow veterans to divorce themselves from faith communities, we rob ourselves of a great opportunity to provide spiritual support. I believe it is in the faith community that we are presented with the best opportunity to help veterans grow and develop spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

If you are interested in being a part of our efforts to do just this, join us and others. Reach out to God’s Word for Warriors and see what a difference you can make in the lives of our veterans. I look forward to hearing from you. – Tom Seals (615-430-3544; Tom@godswordforwarriors.com)