Needy People

“We really do need each other.” Those words were on the cover of a book that caught my eye many years ago. It's hard to believe, but that book is one that I didn’t buy! I’ve never forgotten the phrase because it captures one of the key thoughts of Christianity. We need each other.

Down through history there have been those who felt that they could “do it” on they’re own. It was (and is) kind of like Charlie Brown who said, “I love mankind – it’s people I can’t stand.” I’ll grant that people can isolate themselves from others for good reasons, at least with good intentions. However, doesn’t that violate one of the earliest of God’s pronouncements in scripture, “It’s not good for man to be alone?” We need each other.

We’ve been in Central Asia for only three months but we’ve learned some things about what we need. We’ve found that we don’t need all the things we thought we did just a few months ago. We’ve also learned that we really do need our brothers and sisters. We need those who are at home and support us through prayer. We need those around us here who encourage us, challenge us and correct us.

I was raised in a family where touch was not encouraged. Hugs and kisses were not something seen in our home. Love pats and gentle touches were reserved for the very youngest children and, at some point, they soon outgrew them. People weren’t intended to go through life independently. We weren’t designed to be Lone Rangers. (Even he had his “faithful companion, Tonto.”) Gentle touch, kind words, tender looks – all of these contribute to good communication and can contribute to the self-esteem of those around us.

Healthy living demands that we relate to one another in healthy ways that build interdependent relationships. We’ve all seen those who try to be independent and not have to rely on anyone else. We’ve also all seen those who are chronically dependent on others. They’ve never discovered their value as an individual, nor their ability to contribute to others. Interdependency allows us to “breathe” in our relationships. We give and receive on a regular basis allowing the group and the individuals to grow.

We attended the International Christian Fellowship last Sunday. (We don’t attend there every week since we feel it’s important to show support for the national church as well.) During the singing a brother from Africa began rhythmic clapping. I have to admit, it caught me by surprise. I’m used to people clapping during singing, either on the beat or on the off-beat. I can’t do it well but I’m used to it. This was different. At first it was mildly distracting. As time went on I found it more than just enjoyable. I found it a great contribution to the music of the morning. His expression of joy and praise increased my joy and, I believe, my ability to praise.

Watching God put people together in different ways is interesting. If we believe that He knows what He’s doing, and we should, then He has us together for a reason. We each have something to contribute and something to gain. When we can actually find this a reality in our lives we will discover a new level of relationship with the Body of Christ.

To paraphrase Tiny Tim from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, “We really do need each other – every one.”