New Monasticism

So, I mentioned yesterday I am part of a monastic community here in LA. If you are not familiar with the concept of monastic community, I will try to shed light on it. In the last two weeks, we have read through and discussed a book describing the new monastic movement using a variety of authors with differing experiences with monastic communities. The book is entitled School(s) for Conversion: 12 Marks of a New Monasticism

The gist of the book is that groups of Christians intentionally live together in an area and reach out to their community and address their needs. The people living in the house share what they have and live as a community resembling the community of believers in Acts 2. This passage is set just after Pentecost and thousands of people are becoming followers of Christ. It says in verses 42-47:

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their numbers day by day those who were being saved."

Monastic communities have been around in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions for a really long time. Some of the early communities were Franciscan and Benedictine. One quote in the book that stood out was "The Benedictines' submission to the church did not result in their being submerged in the much laxer practices of the wider church; it instead resulted in the wider church being transformed by the example and teaching of the monastic communities." (12 Marks 75)

The real heart is to reach out to our community in live and acceptance and share the love of Christ with them. And all the while, serve to larger body of Christ through the church and, just as the monks above, affect the greater church in a large way for the kingdom of God.

It has been really cool to see how this house has become a huge part of the community and people really feel welcome here and I'm excited to be a part of that in the next two years.