Why community? Why, Jesus?

Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you. -I Peter 3:15

I love our church, our building, the feel of the space, our parish hall, etc. I adore our people who are wonderful and caring people who love their church, too. I received my weekly Monday Matters from Executive Director of RenewalWorks Jay Sidebotham this morning. And his reflection was about the "whys." Why, specifically, would we ask someone to come to our church? Why do we think our church is important enough to keep going? And folks have responses to these questions, like mine above: we love the way our church makes us feel. We love the way our church looks. We want to save our church for future generations. But, one might continue to ask, why?

Is our church engaged in helping us to grow in awareness of and closeness to the love of Jesus Christ? Can we answer yes to that question? Do we desire to answer yes to that question? And, if we say "yes" to all of the above, then what do we except to happen? And why is the love of Christ something we want to share? Perhaps these are the questions we might ponder and how being a part of Christian community helps us to more fully know Jesus and to share the awareness and, dare i say thatJoye, with the world.