Church as a Family

One thing ive been learning is seeing the Church as a family. The best terms Jesus gave us for seeing other believers in the church were brothers, sisters, and mothers. Usually our priorities are God first, the family, the church, and the world. However, the service of God is never separated from serving God's people.

My teacher, Joesph Hellerman, who wrote "The Church was a Family" argues that we are to put a greater emphasis on treating the body of the church as our family. 57 times, Paul says "our God" and only once writes "my God." We normally see our sanctification and spiritual growth as a very personal experience. Even at our conversion of justification we have seen it as a very personal and individual relationship with God. However, when a believer steps into faith, he or she in a sense has become part of a new family. We find a relationship with God, but don't have the view of giving our lives to the church and the gospel.


This should change the way we witness to someone. People are hesitant to join a belief, because they want no commitment to a group. When we tell someone the good news, we often leave out that they should get connected to the family of the church. We honestly don't do a good job with welcoming new believers into the body of the church. I believe most Christians are greatly struggling with their spiritual walk because they arn't connected with other believers.

We have been raised extremely individualistic. Our needs are always put first before any group our community. Even within our families, we often put our own needs first. In America we seek how a church can meet our own personal needs. We seek the church to fill all our spiritual needs, rather than how we can contribute and give to others. We look to what we can get out of it, rather than how we can build the body.

In Acts, people would willingly surrender their own needs for the good of the church. In our work places, and educational institutions we see it as a means of gaining something for ourselves. A paycheck, a degree. We don't really think what's best for the collective group. As Christians, it's not just your personal relationship with God, we are to come together as a church and worship as a single unit.

We are to be focused on meeting other people's needs. Often people are turned off by the church because they don't feel welcomed or cared about. When I was looking for a church, I expected people to greet me. If people didn't then I usually left and went looking for another. We run to easily. We don't let relationships take root. Once things get uneasy we're so quick to flee. If a church doesn't satisfy our every individual need, we seek another. If there's conflict, guess it's off to somewhere else. As Christians, how much do we honestly invest into the church? Do we see church as just a Sunday service? Do we connect with others in a small group? Do we pray with and for others? Do we work conflicts out? How do we treat the church?

I am inspired by the Korean church I am currently attending. When I got sick and went to the emergency room, a bunch of people from the church called me and wanted to check to see how I was doing. I was astonished that people actually cared.

Are we really dying to ourselves? Do we lay our lives down for others? Are we others minded? Do we intentionally express love to our brothers and sisters? Faith without works is dead. Do we go out of our way to grow together? Loving others is loving God. We expect others to be there for us, yet how often are we there for them?

I am convicted because I don't usually extend myself outwards. If things are inconvenient for me I have a hard time giving and offering help. I keep my life closed off and reserved. I don't usually let people know what I think or how I feel. I internalize everything, instead of sharing and blessing others. We get so caught up with ourselves and all our current trials, we pay no attention to how others are. Being encouraged, starts with being an encouragement. In conclusion, love is selfless and our spiritual growth is not meant to be done alone.