Communal Living And The Christian

Communal groups are nothing new and have just about run the gamut of different religions, ideologies, and reasons for being such. As far back as times before Christ, there were Jewish groups who formed monasteries and lived in hermit-like groups, isolating themselves from the rest of the world and spent their time in worship, prayer, reading, fasting and such. Of course, these were different than the later groups and modern day communes in that they normally consisted only of men.

During the 1940's and 1950's, there were a number of communes formed in a wave of "getting back to nature" desire of many who were becoming disenchanted with urban living, gangs, drugs, hippies and the like. Some had a religious root while others simply wanted to "get away from it all".

Some probably wonder what is wrong with communal living, and under certain conditions, there might be nothing scripturally wrong with it, but the term would have to be used in a very liberal tone I think. Every aspect would have to be considered in light of the scripture. The reason one would do it is vitally important. The people with whom one would commune would have to be seriously considered. The degree of isolation from the outside world would be vital, and on and on.

It is for sure, one would have to have some vision or plan that would help convert those around him to New Testament Christianity. And, I am pretty sure that those within the commune would have to be of like precious faith before one could toss all his holdings into the communal pot. Likewise, it is important that we do not isolate ourselves from the world to the extent that they cannot witness our lives as we serve God. I really cannot visualize a communal situation that would be pleasing to God.

I am fully in favor of "Home" schooling our children. But I also firmly believe that we must include in that teaching, the reasons we have selected it. And also feel that it is vitally important to stress to our children that we cannot isolate ourselves from the world, rather, that we must learn to not be of the world.

Always remember the early Christian martyrs who served God faithfully under adverse conditions and many were tortured and killed for doing so. Currently, the world is not a good place and, unfortunately, it may get far worse for those of us in the United States.

Frankly, God gave us America, a land flowing with milk and honey, but we have thanked him by electing officials who would allow free course to murdering our unborn children, that would allow atheism and homosexuals rights that far exceed those of our "freedom of religion", that would allow (and sometimes require) our schools to teach the evolutionist hypothesis as fact, and require the teaching of the Koran in some schools but will not allow any references to Christian doctrines or the Bible.

Also, a number of religious cults came into being and dwelt together. Many were short lived and faded back into society after the illusion of peaceful leisure in the quiet solitude of the countryside and like-minded neighbors began to return to realism where hard labor was required to furnish all with food and medications and some neighbors turned out to be as they were in the city.

But some survived and remain today, and some have been started since those years. Below you will find links to a few that will give you some idea of the diversity of purposes of these groups, their means of sustenance, and so on. I suspect that these are some of the better ones.

| The Twinoaks Commune |

| Jesus People USA |

| Acorn Community |

| Alpha Farm |

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Webgazine Columnist.