As You Go About
Patrick Edwards
Matthew 28:18-20
Introduction: Back in April we took that month to talk about ''What is Church?'' Hopefully, you remember we answered that question simply by stating that the church is a family. Now, of course, we have be careful here and define our terms for while the Bible makes it clear as to what that means and looks like, we have to admit that often we can import our own definitions onto the idea of family. In other words, we may all be comfortable using the concept of family; the problem is just that we might each mean different things about that word.
For example, when we speak of the family of the local church we don't mean biological family. I've worked in and around churches that heavily emphasized family, but in reality, what they meant was kin. They wanted the essence of the church to be formed around bloodlines. Now, of course, there's not anything wrong with desiring all of one's family and extended family to be a part of the church. Au contraire. God has designed the nuclear family to be at the very core of His collective people. The problem, however, in defining the family of God in these terms (apart from the fact that this is rather unbiblical) is that the church then becomes closed to anyone that is not biologically related. In other word, A local church that is built around bloodlines is not a church that is obediently committed to the mission of God.
Another way we must avoid defining family is by defining it according to privileges or benefits received. What I mean by this is sometimes when the church is described as a family what is meant is that the church is a place where people will care for you. Now, again, there's not anything wrong with desiring to be a part of a community where you know you can count on others for support no matter what. That's what the church should be. We must care for one another. However, if your view of the church is built primarily upon this concept then, the problem i ...
Patrick Edwards
Matthew 28:18-20
Introduction: Back in April we took that month to talk about ''What is Church?'' Hopefully, you remember we answered that question simply by stating that the church is a family. Now, of course, we have be careful here and define our terms for while the Bible makes it clear as to what that means and looks like, we have to admit that often we can import our own definitions onto the idea of family. In other words, we may all be comfortable using the concept of family; the problem is just that we might each mean different things about that word.
For example, when we speak of the family of the local church we don't mean biological family. I've worked in and around churches that heavily emphasized family, but in reality, what they meant was kin. They wanted the essence of the church to be formed around bloodlines. Now, of course, there's not anything wrong with desiring all of one's family and extended family to be a part of the church. Au contraire. God has designed the nuclear family to be at the very core of His collective people. The problem, however, in defining the family of God in these terms (apart from the fact that this is rather unbiblical) is that the church then becomes closed to anyone that is not biologically related. In other word, A local church that is built around bloodlines is not a church that is obediently committed to the mission of God.
Another way we must avoid defining family is by defining it according to privileges or benefits received. What I mean by this is sometimes when the church is described as a family what is meant is that the church is a place where people will care for you. Now, again, there's not anything wrong with desiring to be a part of a community where you know you can count on others for support no matter what. That's what the church should be. We must care for one another. However, if your view of the church is built primarily upon this concept then, the problem i ...
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