Community

Today my son Sam and I went to a cub scout event at Tyler State Park. We had to learn to cook something outside. We were hosted by a group I had never heard of. It was called "The Lone Star Dutch Oven Society." I was a bit skeptical when I first heard of it. I never knew there was a whole society of "dutch oven" people.

I have seen dutch ovens used for years. Through my experience with scouting I have seen all kinds of things cooked in them.

But this was different. We arrived at the Tyler State Park. A large crowd of trucks, vans, RVs, 5th wheels all gathered in a circle. Out of the back of all these various vehicles every kind of out door kitchen you could imagine was set up. People of all ages were slicing and dicing and preparing food. They welcomed the cub scouts into their fold with open arms. The boys were divided up to watch and prepare a meal in a dutch oven. I have never seen so many different sizes of dutch ovens. I thought a dutch oven was a dutch oven.

The gentlemen that Sam was with was great. He was an older gentleman. He patiently and gently showed Sam how to prepare the cake that Sam was working on.

This scene was played out all around the camp. Not only were the cub scouts being helped, but all kids of other people were there who had never done this before were welcomed into the community. They showed them what they were doing. The let them participate in what they were doing. They gave them advice, tips and suggestions on how to get started. There were kids, teenagers and retired people were fellowshiping and having community. They welcomed people into their community and made them feel at home. There was no drinking, no smoking, no profanity nothing that detract. Those not involved in the cooking were walking dogs, riding bikes, walking or just chatting. There was even a central teaching area were the new folks were shown how to make their own dish. At 12:30 everyone brought what they had cooked, put it in a central area and everyone ate. You could sample from any dish that was prepared.

I have no idea the spiritual condition of the people that we met with. Maybe they were believers maybe they were not. Maybe some were and some were not.

Looking at this group I get a sense of maybe what the early church must have been like. People having real incarnational community. Sharing as they had. Helping others grow. Welcoming new people. Fellowshiping and doing community together.

If the early church was like this. Why cant the modern church be like this?