The Church As A Family

CHURCH ARTICLE | John Hains | Smithville, Ontario

Just a few minutes ago, I was on the phone, long-distance, with my sister – my adopted sister. Even though she is adopted, I consider her to be my “real” sister. (We were both adopted. While we are not biologically related, we really are connected in a unique way.) We were reminiscing together because today was the wedding anniversary of our adoptive parents. Although both of our parents are gone now, it’s a joy for us to remember them! We miss them. They were dear folks who took us into their hearts and home and wanted us to call them Mom and Dad – even though we’d all previously been strangers! And you know, even though strangers, in the presence of their beautiful love for us, we bonded together as a real family. Each of us, as individuals with separate heritages, were brought together in love. And that illustrates a spiritual matter of extreme eternal significance.

In a far greater sense, adoption into a spiritual family is what the majestic God in heaven offers to us through His love. He adopts us, so we become His children and call Him “Father!” When people come to know the Lord, understand His truth for salvation, and submit to His gospel in loving obedience, then they’re raised to walk in newness of life. Their old sins are gone and along with the gift of eternal life comes a new family of adopted brothers and sisters in Christ. Members of this spiritual family are all saved by God’s mercy. All have been adopted by His amazing love to become part of His eternal spiritual family! Please stop to read and enjoy Ephesians 1:1-6.

Many years ago, I baptized a man who understood and valued that new-found spiritual family bond. He’d been heavily involved in his denomination. After his conversion to Christ, he went through a time of heavy friction, both from his extended physical family and people from his former church. None of them were too happy about his decision. I hope I’ll never forget the Thanksgiving day that followed his conversion: he invited the whole church to come over to his home for the Thanksgiving meal. Except for his immediate family, he had no earthly family or friends present that day because he felt he’d lost them all. Before we prayed for the meal, with tears in his eyes and a choked voice, he said to all of us present: “You are my family now.”

Many of us can relate to that. Becoming a Christian can be very costly – even severing us from family and former friends who disapprove of our new life.

Do you remember the Lord warning this would happen to many who chose to follow Him, in Luke 12:51-53? “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division … father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” How amazing then that the Lord blesses us with this spiritual family, which is a beautiful gift that should never be taken lightly. Especially when it was born out of significant loss and pain: God’s and Christ’s!

In the face of this pain and loss, God creates something so exceptional for us. He gives us a loving, nurturing, caring spiritual family. It’s mindboggling for those of us who’ve obeyed the gospel when we suddenly begin to realize that we have family all over the world. We have family in Canada and in the United States, Russia, Romania, India, Jamaica, and every nation in the world where people obey the Lord’s truth. People, taken from every physical nation under heaven, make up the nation of God. Thus, we become a part of a greater nation than the physical nation in which we were born as citizens. Philippians 3:20 states: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…” Such is the portrait of the family of God – a great family picture that I love being in!

As we study the Bible and read about the interactions between members of God’s family, we see a picture of beauty. No, not because we are particularly handsome or attractive family members. It’s an ugly picture where some of us have our hats on backward, or some have forgotten to check the mirror to comb our hair. Still, yet, others have scars from the past that are hard to hide. Others aren’t sure they’re ready for the adoption of God because it’s too costly a commitment and maybe they want out.

In truth, the portrait shows we’re not at all perfect. What unites this family photo is that we are trusting in God’s grace to cleanse us, having repented of past sins. The family picture reveals brethren who, for the most part, are trying to be like our Father and walk in His steps. Christians ought to make their family resemblance to Him ever stronger, and that’s what makes the family portrait truly a picture of beauty! “…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,” Ephesians 1:4-5. Is that your goal?

It’s also a family portrait of care and love. If a brother or sister is hurting, everyone hurts with them. If one rejoices, all rejoice with that one. If one is in need, others come to provide for the lack. Sounds much like what we read in Acts 2:44-45, doesn’t it? “Now all who believe were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.” Behaving like the early Christians will cost us something. We must ask ourselves: “Am I willing to pay it?”

What are other special features that make up a family?

Ephesians 4:1-3 answers the question –

“I … beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Love, peace, patience, care, and compassion, all wrapped up in humility, play a significant role in cementing a strong family. It’s God’s design! And it’s essential we behave properly, so that we do not dishonor the glory of our adopted Father, or hinder those outside watching us who might come to Him. Ephesians 4:32 admonishes, “…be kind to one another, tender-hearted…”

Also, we are not related by physical blood since we are an adopted family. We are united by something better – the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. Because of this, we have the same Father as Jesus does.

In the spiritual family, have you ever seen the Scriptures in action where God’s teachings are carried out by human hearts and hands? For example, have you received chicken soup or a meal when sick or grieving? If you have, then you know how loved that made you feel. You glorified God through that kindness, and your spiritual family bond was made stronger. Have you never received a meal from a spiritual sister or brother? I’m sorry. But now, YOU can be that person who shares your love and kindness with another brother or sister in need.

Have you ever been discouraged, lonely or afraid, and received a call or card with a loving word of encouragement? How did that affect your heart? Did it give you courage?

If you’ve never received that type of love from your Christian family, then YOU can be the person who shows kindness to the needs of your spiritual family. You can reach out tangibly to give support – call, write, pray, and let them know they matter and that you care. There is a myriad of ways to strengthen the family bonds that we have in Christ. We can share outings; everyday experiences; favors given in love to the children for ice cream; offering to help someone move; babysit; cleaning someone’s home, etc.. We must strengthen the tie that binds our hearts and souls. It is a wonderful blessing to be a part of a family like this!

Because the church is a family, we have a shared heritage. Peter declares, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). We have a shared goal which is our living hope!

Since we share a common hope, our church family needs to work together as a team. We need to be encouraging, comforting, edifying, and correcting each other. We’re accountable before God and to one another, helping each family member on the journey toward our eternal home! Satan is trying to block our journey and destroy the church’s “family unit.” We must be on guard!

How would it have been growing up in your physical family, if you didn’t show up at home? Would days go by before someone might notice that your bed was unused and you missed family events? Not likely! We need to be watchful, always with gentleness and love, toward those who are struggling spiritually. Is anyone missing or hurting? YOU can be the one to look around the family of God and initiate prayer, Bible reading, or study with those who are needing extra attention! YOU can make that difference! “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another” (James 5:16).

Do you have an earthly family watching out for you, who will warn, rebuke, or correct you if you veer off the path? If so, you’re blessed! How much more than that do we need to help one another in the spiritual family? Satan is at work through temptations and sins, which flirt for our soul’s attention. Oh, that we’d have courageous brothers and sisters who’d love us enough to stand in our way, and gently lead us back to safety! YOU can be that brother or sister who will dare to pray and get involved! Paul says, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2).

In the church family, God provides a great source of help, love, and encouragement for us (Hebrews 10:23-25). Are you a part of the family? Then dive right in and demonstrate it by your love for the Lord and His children, letting the family resemblance to the Lord to show in YOU and through YOU!

19.10.01 | GROW magazine