Godly Community isn't Always What You Think
- Mary Spencer Veazey
- Jul 15
- 3 min read
Building relationships as an adult isn’t easy. We work. We have to feed ourselves three times a day. Somehow, we should also get 8 hours of sleep, walk 10,000 steps, hang with friends, and have hobbies too.
And if you’re a Christian, part of your life equation is having spiritual practices. Quiet moments with God. Belonging to a church family. Joining a Bible study/community group. Finding, making and keeping friends who can and will encourage you in your faith.
But I think building the Godly community Jesus modeled for us during His time on Earth looks different than a lot of us probably believe.
It’s important to join a church, be a part of a community group, and volunteer in some capacity with your local church. I hope every believer has friends who love the Lord and spur them on in God’s mission for our lives.
Here’s what we often miss: finding friends that aren’t like us.
Building Truly Godly Community
Are there people in our lives that don’t believe what we believe? What about friends that don’t look like us? Or, and this can be a tough one in this day and age, are there any friends that have different political beliefs than us?
What if we, as Christians, really lived out loving all people? And I mean all people!
We need a foundation of friends that are chasing Jesus wholeheartedly, and we also need friends that challenge us and remind us that we can disagree with someone and still love them.
In high school, I had two great friends that were Hindu. I learned so much from them about their culture and religion and their respect for other cultures and religions.
Our high school was a private Christian high school so there were times we said prayers or had Bible classes and they always bowed their heads and closed their eyes out of respect. That has always stuck with me, their respect for all of those around them regardless of our religious differences.
I’ve been in Nashville for seven years. I have friends that have deep faith in God and no faith in God. I have friends who are conservative and liberal. I have friends that I align with on most topics and friends I have lively debates with.
But here’s the common thread with all of my good friends: they love hard and they love their lives. When you love your life, you’re too filled with joy to bring those around you down. And those are the kinds of people I want in my life.
So no, not all of my community is filled with people who love Jesus. I wish they did! And maybe they will someday. But when I look at Jesus’s life He’s often found near people that differ from Him in a variety of ways.
Start Building Godly Community Today
So here’s my challenge for you: look around at the people you have in your life. Maybe it’s time to invite some people in that might give you new perspectives.
Start with where you are every day. Friends at work, school, in your neighborhood or at your gym. Go out of your way to say hello or send a text inviting someone to coffee on your porch or ask the mom you met at the park to go on a walk.
You’ll be a better follower of Jesus because of the people you love along the way. Love them all. Bring in close the ones who love you back and want to sharpen you.
Have people in your life that encourage you in your faith… and challenge you in it too. You’ll be surprised what you learn about the Lord, the world He’s made, and the people He’s filled it with when you step outside of what's comfortable.
Mary Spencer Veazey is the author of Cul-De-Sac Crossroads, a book about navigating life's twists and turns in your twenties with courageous clarity. Click below to learn more about Mary Spencer and get Cul-De-Sac Crossroads today!
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