We Are Family

Remember the first time you took your child to see your parents at their house? Even if your parents were at the hospital when the baby was born, it’s still special…that first trip to Grandma and Grandpa’s. A fresh, new, crying, wetting, pooping, GRANDCHILD. That’s the key! A grandchild! That kid could poop all over the living room floor. Wouldn’t matter! That’s family! The kid starts whimpering and Grandma is there holding out her arms to take over. That’s family! Few days are as special in the life of a family than the first visit for a grandchild.

God meant for the church to be like a family. I guess we’re saying it all wrong because you don’t “go to family.” Rather, you are part of a family. So…you don’t “go to church,” you are part of a church. In a church like I’m thinking of, belonging comes from who you are, not what you do. Churches should be like healthy families, they freely give of themselves to one another. They’re open and inviting to others. Oh, and there’s always room for extended family.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another…. Hebrews 10

When you look at the first century church in the Bible, that’s what you’ll see. Here are some online excerpts from people defining “family”:

• “I define family as someone who loves you and someone who is there for you no matter what.”
• “Family, for me, is not only my blood relatives, but the people closest to me. Ones who have my back.”
• “To me, family means no one gets left behind.”

Whichever definition is your definition of family, you can find it at church. If you haven’t…keep looking, you just haven’t found the true church.