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Bibliographic Citation
Bridges, J. (2018). True Community. NavPress.
Summary
Bridges originally wrote a book about the necessity that the body of Christ has to
comprehend the deep meaning of the word koinonia. That book titled True Fellowship, written
about thirty years ago, was meant to explain what koinonia was all about in the New Testament.
(Bridges, 2018, p. vii.). Eventually, that book was renamed The Crisis of Caring to address that
koinonia was more than just a shallow and weak attempt to have Christian community fellowship
(vii.). Finally, after much attention to genuine meaning and study of what koinonia is about,
Bridges revised his book and titled it True Community.
True Community is a book in which the author makes an excellent apology for the
meaning of the Greek word koinonia. Bridges (2018) opens his book by giving the meaning of
the Koinōnia in the New Testament. Bridges use relationships, participation, partnership,
sharing, and fellowship. These words have a much deeper feeling than just the communion time
people have after Sunday's service. Bridges makes his case by letting the reader know that the
foundation to ensure true fellowship between brothers is the individual's union with God. To
grow spiritually, mentally, and in numbers in the body of Christ, one must be in union with God.
Bridges (2018) states that no matter how hard one works to establish good fellowship with
others, if the individual is not connected vertically to God, genuine koinonia between people is
impossible. (p. 9).
The meaning of koinonia moves forward to explain the importance of spending quality
and quantity of time with God, then within the body of Christ, and allowing the Holy Spirit to be
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in the middle of fellowship so that the body of Christ can do its mission. Share the gospel of
Jesus Christ.
Critique
Bridges (2008) makes an apparent effort to describe the importance of multiple principles
needed to build a strong community. One principle defined clearly is one of partnership. It is in
human nature to try to accomplish most things as an individual. In sports, career, and business, in
Western culture, individuality is what most people strive for, for Bridges (2008) addresses the
importance of becoming partners in the calling to be the church by referencing the relationships
between believers and how everyone worked united and became a community in action, not just
in word, but indeed. Bridges (2008) insisted that the Community of believers came with one goal
in their partnership: to give all the glory to God. (p.4). To give all the glory to God is to have the
whole Community of believers promote the good news of Jesus Christ and build up the church as
an entire body.
As the Community embraces the goal of partnership, it is clear that relationships will be
strengthened within the group. Bridges (2008) describes how the opening of the Christian church
and its members were united and partnered with each other to share everything they had for the
good of not only individuals but for the good of everyone in need. (p. 2). A critical description
here is Bridges' understanding that the believers had entered into their relationship, partnership
by faith in what Jesus Christ had done for each of them. (Bridges, 2008) It is from this point of
view that Bridges marries chapters one through twelve.
Communion with God is married right into the importance of fellowship and partnership
between the community members. Psalm 27:4 (NIV) clearly states, “One thing I ask from the
Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life…”
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Bridges (2008) argues that as the believer partners with God, the believer, together with the
whole Community, may have communion with God as they give God all the worship,
thanksgiving, and obedience, and even the believer's confessions of sin can be shared with God.
(pp. 35-36).
This communion and partnership between God and the Community of believers can only
be effective if spiritual fellowship exists. Bridges use what one reads in Malachi 3:16 (NIV) to
argue strongly for the importance of spiritual fellowship that God approves of. "Then those who
fear the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard…" Bridges use this
Scripture to give the reader a picture of God being there in the middle of that small true
Community of believers having a spiritual partnership and fellowship. God was not only there in
their midst, but God was also pleased with the Community's spiritual fellowship.
The most excellent example of partnership in the Community of believers can clearly be
articulated by how the body of Christ serves each other and others. Galatians 5:13 (NIV): You,
my brothers and sisters, were called to be free… serve one another humbly in love. Bridges
introduces this Scripture to make the reader aware of the importance of servitude. Nobody needs
to go any further than what Jesus Christ came to do in this world. He came to serve; He came to
teach and instruct His believers to serve others. Bridges (2008) reminds the reader that the most
excellent example of servanthood is the person of Jesus Christ. (p. 124).
Evaluation
Bridges’ book True Community comes with many valuable and sound instructions for the
young and experienced believer. The importance of going back to the essence of the meaning of
a community of believers, the responsibility each believer has to ensure that God's purpose,
Jesus' message, and the Holy Spirit's guidance are front center in every believer's heart so that the
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Great Commission can be fulfilled. The descriptions of genuine fellowship, partnership, and
union cannot just become something great that was once read for a course. It must be taken
seriously and become not just words but action in the Community of believers.
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