What is a family? A group of people united by the ties of marriage, blood, or adoption, constituting a single household and interacting with each other in their respective social positions, usually those of spouses, parent, children and siblings.

 

Family means having someone to love you unconditionally (Christ) in spite of you and your short comings. Family is loving and supporting one another even when it’s not easy to do so. What does family mean to you? Respect and appreciation of others. Family extends to community, sisterhood and brotherhood. Family is your foundation. Includes all the people in our lives who commit to love and support us unconditionally.

 

Some people argue we should see our church as our “first family.” Jesus certainly refocused membership in God’s family: Now anyone can join the family not by bloodline, but by faith in him through the spread of the gospel. Accordingly, belonging to the “household of God” means more than just spending quality time together. It means people of all generations working shoulder to shoulder in the family business: sharing the love of Jesus in both word and deed.

 

In most cases, the church won’t replace our family. Instead we must let the gospel reorient our family relationships – and in turn, these new priorities will strengthen the church.

You’re part of the whole family of God. “The one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family” (Heb 2:11) This is no dysfunctional family, with family members estranged from one another. It’s a fellowship. When God “called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor 1:9), he also called you into ‘fellowship” with the whole family (1 Cor 5:2). As Paul said to the Corinthians, “The eye cannot say to the hand ‘I don’t need you! And the head cannot say to the feet, I don’t need you.” (1 Cor, 12:21)

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.

 

Theologian Alastair Roberts describes family this way:

The language of “family” for church very much depends on the church  being made up of natural families. What gives the church Its backbone of community is often the families that are opened up to the kingdom of God. That’s what gives the church so much of its capacity to function as an extended family.

 

Family helps family. If your “blood family” calls and says: “I need your help,” you run to their side. No questions! You are there for them. Your church family is reaching out and calling for your help.

 

Review the redeemerbythesea.org website and see all the groups that you can join. Be a part of the family. Don’t be on the outside looking in!