The faith family


And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:31-35 ESV
            The term “Faith Family” is not one to be used lightly because it refers to a reality of the body of Christ. By his blood we are joined with a powerful bond, one which Jesus Himself says is greater than the bond of familial blood. The blood of Christ runs thicker than any strain of earthly blood. In part this is a reflection of the commitment each Christian has made to Christ which is above and before all others. This is made clear in Luke 14:26-27 with explicit reference to familial ties and commitment: which we ought to recall meant more than and there than they do here and now. Faith family is not wishful thinking, or a nice idea; but a reality of the work of Christ and a right expression of what he established. It Is not an vain or empty term to be used as a slogan, but an ideal to must be striven for with all diligence at every moment.
            What does this look like? The opening chapters of Acts likely give us our best picture of the Church as family. A few things stand out in the description. First, they met daily; not weekly, not a couple of times a year, not when they felt like it, daily. Granted for the early church, and for the reformation which sought to meet daily as well, this was easier. They lived in a small community, within walking distance, and they did walk most places. They would have naturally encountered other members of their faith family without making special efforts, but I believe they made special effort anyway. It was not only important to them that they meet together daily, but I think they wanted to for their own enjoyment. Secondly, they supported one another. We often look to the material needs they supplied, but far more important they met each other’s spiritual needs. Those who needed encouragement found it, those who needed instruction found it, those who needed community and fellowship found it at the church. Every indication of teaching and example appears to make the church the center of the Christian community.
            It appears we have lost this idea, and the reason seems to be that war is made on the family. The earthly family has come under attack, and all those who truly follow Christ have rightly railed to its defense. The earthy family was established first, and was never abolished. It is the primary place of discipleship, and the most foundational community. However, in defending the earthly family we have closed in around it, and have subtracted from the value of the faith family in our thinking. We have made the church less by making the family more, and this is very bad. We have gone so far in this direction that what I have said thus far might even be taken as an attack on the family. But if we would defend the family, we must strength the faith family. The church stands before the family as a sure line of defense. Trace the war on family back and you will find that it could not commence in earnest until the church was dismantled.
            There is no dichotomy between the family of faith and the family of blood. To be at church is not to be away from earthly family, there no choice which should exist in which to be at church is not also family time, or does not benefit the family. The two situations in which this is not true, in the immediate circumstances, are also the two situations in which is most important for the faith family to be a faith family. Firstly, and most importantly is the case of the believer whose family is not saved. These souls are truly divided between the things of this world and the next. It is an awful position to be in as some of you will know, and the real familial presence of other believes is required comfort and help. The second situation is the believer who is far from his earthly family. Especially the single believer. Here all that the earthly family might do is rightly taken on by the faith family. For these the truth of the passage above becomes much clearer, and so we might wish that all believers went through a season in which they had to find their home with the church.
            Coming to church ought to be like family plus time. We do not exist in competition with the family, but in support of it and as an extension of it, and as an everlasting form of family particularly to the lonely. Do not abandon your family, even as Christ never abandoned Mary his earthly mother, but even on His cross saw that she would taken care of. Neither abandoned the church for remember was into the hands of a church member that Jesus commended his earthly mother.
Prayer
Father, you have called as your sons and daughters and made us brothers and sisters in Christ a family bound by the bond of divine blood for Your purpose and for Your glory, and to our own good. Help us Lord to understand this truth, and to live it out each day. Help us to see the value of faith family and of earthly family correctly and to strike a proper balance. Give us wisdom, and grant us grace that we might know your will and do it. In the name of Christ, we ask these things to Your glory. Amen.
Song
For all the Saints

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