Not as Strong

Years ago, Christian artist Rich Mullins wrote and recorded a song called "We Are Not as Strong as We Think We Are." It's a rather haunting love song of sorts, and it was released just shortly before he died; it was, in fact, apparently one of the last songs he recorded fully before he was killed in an automobile accident. Which makes it even more haunting.


The title itself really says it all, and is a good summation of Biblical (especially Pauline) theology. Over and over again, we are told in the Scriptures that we aren't meant to do this life thing alone. We need each other. We are the BODY of Christ, together, not individually. Each person needs the other. And while I've always believed that, I've come to realize the necessity of the community more and more over the past few years. We are not meant to and cannot live this faith by ourselves. When we try, when we try to "be as strong as we think we are," we are left with the realization that we really aren't. We are not as strong as we think we are—which is why God calls us to community.


In what ways has the community been valuable to you? How have you found yourself strengthened more in the body of Christ than by standing on your own?


Here's the chorus of Mullins' song. I'd encourage you to Google it and read the rest of the lyrics as well.


We are frail 
We are fearfully and wonderfully made 
Forged in the fires of human passion 
Choking on the fumes of selfish rage 
And with these our hells and our heavens 
So few inches apart 
We must be awfully small 
And not as strong as we think we are