Final Group Reflections

It was interesting to share perspectives on this reading with others in the reading group. We are from a smaller congregation of 100 people in a mid-sized Midwestern town of around 40,000 people. This book was written more from the perspective of a large urban area (Arlington, Texas) in a mega-church. The over idealized version of the neighborhood of the 50's didn't quite fit the perspective of many of us. There were people in neighborhoods even back then that did not want to converse with or be involved in any way in the neighborhood. There were those that felt Frazee went overboard in attacking individualism as an ungodly problem, stating it was a trait, not a problem. Isolation, it was felt, was a problem, but individualism was merely a trait.

The church "model" that Frazee presents in this book is more helpful than the stilted view of life in the past. However, even here there are things that do not fit a smaller church. The idea of neighborhood groups is a good thing, but the "mid-sized group" would be more akin to the entire congregation in a congregation of 100 people or less. In spite of this, it was helpful to note that each meeting, the neighborhood, the mid-sized, and the congregational, each had a clear focus that complemented each other. The group noted that our meetings need to also have a clearly understood purpose.

The group also discussed Frazee's discussion of the need for a common understanding of our beliefs, practices, and virtues. A congregation needs to understand what a Christian should look like, what a Christian should believe, and how a Christian should behave. The overall preaching and teaching program should contribute toward this. The historic aversion in our fellowship to anything that looks or sounds like it may be a creed needs to be dealt with, but it should not prevent careful study that results in summary statements. This is not a "creed," because creeds can be a double-edged sword. In the earliest days, creeds were a means of uniting believers in sound faith and practice over against the heretics. The double edge is when they become so rigid and certain, that they become the certain, indisputable standard over scripture and hamper deeper theological and doctrinal reflection that would result in needed growth and corrections. It was stated that the opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. In other words, rigidity in faith is like rigor mortis, it prevents growth. Questioning, re-examination, experience, etc. lead to a stronger faith, not a weaker faith.

Understanding these pitfalls should enable study that results in summary statements of faith and a common understanding on Christian belief, behavior, and virtues, which will lead to measurable standards, and accountability. However, it was felt that this should not be so overly regimented and rigid that it does not recognize the uniqueness of each individual and the fact that every believer begins from a different starting point. A "cookie-cutter" approach is not healthy, since it ignores the unique learning needs of each person. There needs to be a sensitive flexibility in discipleship efforts.

Without a common understanding based on a good theological and doctrinal foundation, there is the likelihood of co-dependent fellowship (it doesn't hold anyone to commonly understood biblical standards, possibly enabling fellowship and care without accountability), a greater lack of spiritual growth, shallow spiritual depth, and even a sense of unhappiness and discontent.

A sermon series could go through common core beliefs of the Christian faith, behaviors of the Christian life, and Christian virtues to grow in. This would be one way to move toward a clearer commonality of faith and practice.

Overall, there were some things to commend this particular read, even though there were things that didn't really fit and some overly idealized perceptions of reality.

Conclusion of the Book

Share your overall reactions to the book here, or any other random thoughts concerning the reading or related topic here.

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Section Three: The Plague of Consumerism and the Solution of Interdependence (p.177-247)

In the last section of his book, Frazee deals with the challenge of consumerism (an attitude that mutually feeds off of individualism and isolation) to the Christian life. In what ways to you agree or disagree with his assessment(s) and suggested solutions (which include such things as a decentralized church structure, literally sharing life, interdependency, and living the Christian life and ministry in the context of smaller groupings, similar to what is described in passages such as Acts 2)? What is your reaction to the conclusion of the story of the Johnson family? What, if anything, do you find helpful in this section?

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Section Two: The Plague of Isolation and Geographic Solution (p.109-176)

According to Frazee, the second major challenge to Christian community is isolation. He suggests, among other things, that friendships that this has promoted "contractual friendships (125-126)," which usually has to involve precise planning, leading to contrived rather than a natural friendships. Frazee's solution involves realigning our lives around neighborhood community that involves:

• Spontaneity (Spontaneous togetherness without need for constant coordination)
• Availability (Being available at all times)
• Frequency (Getting together often)
• Common Meals (sharing meals together regularly)
• Geography (living physically close to each other)

Implementing these solutions may involve such things as relocation, reducing commutes, going to a single income, simplifying life, commit to spending time together, playing in the front yard, bringing neighbors together, etc. -- The principle is - "..concentrated efforts in small geographic boundaries can produce greater results" (170).

What is your reaction to this section? Do you agree that isolation is a problem even among Christians in American culture? Are even Christian freindships of the "contractural" kind? Are Frazee's solutions realistic? How do the biblical teachings concerning community, church, fellowship, etc. shed light on these issues?

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Section One: Plague of Individualism and Integrative Solution (p.41-106)

After reading pages 41-106, reflect on the following paragraph:

Frazee identifies western individualism (that leads to a dysfunctional or co-dependent culture in churches and small groups) as a major obstacle to spiritual growth. His solution is to unite the church around a common, biblical purpose that revolves around the overarching purposes of loving God and neighbor that are facilitated by:

1. common belief (doctrines),
2. spiritual practices (spiritual disciplines), and
3. virtues (character).

These are also facilitated through communal characteristics of :

1. authority (because disclosure without accountability creates co-dependency),
2. a common creed/affirmation,
3. traditions,
4. spiritual practices, and a
5. common mission.

There are some things in this section that both our American culture and our church heritage have an aversion to for various reasons. Keeping these in mind, reflect on some of the possible benefits and/or pitfalls of this overall framework. Was there anything you disagreed with in this overall framework and why? What do you find of most value in this reading?

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Introductory Section: Loneliness and Community (p.1-37)

After reading pages 1-37, reflect on the following paragraph:


In the forward, Dallas Willard states, "All too often real-life connections simply run on a different track from 'church' and remain unredeemed and unredemptive" (17). Later, Frazee writes that, like the Johnsons, many today have "too many worlds to manage. There are too many sets of relationships that do not connect with each other but all require time to maintain" (33). Frazee suggests that the most profound thought of his book is that "Biblical community is the life of Christ on earth today" (22). Then, in the second chapter, Frazee suggests that authentic community in the church is not an option, but a necessity. Explain why you would agree or disagree with this. If you agree, what are some of the implications for your congregation? What do your actions as a congregation demonstrate about its attitude toward connectedness, community, and fellowship?


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Before You Start Reading...

A couple of simple questions to reflect on and share with each other as we prepare to read this book together: What is it that makes you want to read this book? What do you hope to gain from a reading of this book?

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