Last week I asked the question, “What is it about Heaven that appeals to us?” This week is a similar type of question designed to lead you, the reader, into a place of serious, contemplative reflection.
If you have been around Church and/or Church Groups for any period of time, you will hear the term, “Church Family”. Perhaps you wondered what “Church Family” is and the thought of being part of something that sounds so incredibly fantastic keeps you coming back, even decades later, looking to find this “all-elusive” treasure
What is “Church Family”, where do they live and what do they do?
Let’s remind ourselves of Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 12:46-50;
While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. Someone told Him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.”
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of My Father in Heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Jesus’ family were those who did the will of His Father. Hmmm…where have we seen this before…those who do the will of God the Father?
Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven.
Matthew 7:21 NASB
The will of My Father…not your will…but God’s will be done. The ultimate will of God is for all to be brought to complete unity together in Him (John 17:20-24).
The routine we have become accustomed to is more than gathering for one hour a week for a church service. It’s more than going to a Bible Study together, meeting once a month at a coffee shop or serving in a ministry with each other. We call this “family” but it is a cheap knock-off compared to what Church Family is supposed to be.
Frances Chan, in his book “Letters to the Church”, asks the following question,
“Is it just a nice cliché to say the Church should be like a family?”
When I read about the “Acts Church”, that many are designing programs in hopes to achieve, I am left heart broken and longing. How about you? Does your heart long for that kind of community? The kind of community who
- Devotes themselves to the apostles teaching
- Devotes themselves to fellowship
- Devotes themselves to preparing and sharing meals together
- Devotes themselves to praying with each other
All the believers, at that time, met together every day. They met at the temple, they met in each other’s homes. As they continued to live this way, they didn’t need to take courses on “How to Evangelize” for their life lived together in unity was their witness. Because of how they lived and loved each other, God expanded His family daily those who were being saved!
What are we doing? We are choosing a life of secluded convenience over Church Family. The reality is our love for each other looks more like what we give and receive from coworkers or neighbors. That is not the love God called us to, the fulfilling of His will.
We are to contend for the faith side by side. We are to be willing to lay down our lives for one another, have each other’s back. When one person is hurting the whole family is hurting. When one person has accomplished something they have worked hard for, the whole family celebrates.
Are you getting it? Am I clear? We are to treat each other in the Church better than those outside the Church. Real love, unity, doing the will of God is supposed to be found in the Church.
This is what I believe appeals to us. This is what we are longing for. Let’s stop, this day, from being our own worst enemy. We are made to connect with God and each other. To do anything else is counter-intuitive. To do anything else keeps us outside of the will of God our Father.
