Christ’s church is beautiful. We are family…and well, families have issues. We have weird uncles and we have rogue cousins, we have a few that don’t get along, and a couple of real screw-ups too. Yet, we love each other. We recognize our faults and we CHOOSE to look past them as we understand that down deep at the core, we are family.
It really bothers me when I hear a proclaimed co-Christ follower say that they are done with the church. In my view, that mentality is wimpy, self-made, self-serving, and puts unfair expectations on not-yet-perfected people. Essentially, it’s turning your back on your family.
Paul dealt with this very issue as Alexander the coppersmith did him great harm and came up against him in Rome. His church family then abandoned him and did not come to Paul’s defense. Paul could only rely on the Holy Spirit for strength and confirmation. Paul stood alone, with the Lord as his strength. Yet, Paul did not abandon the church…in fact, later Paul told Timothy that he did not want it held against those who abandoned him. See Paul understood that family makes mistakes, family is messed up, but family is family and we love even when we don’t feel loved or when we feel wronged.
We are meant to live in community. We are meant to worship and minister to each other as we go through life. God gives us fellow family members so that we don’t have to walk alone. If there are times where you feel alone, God also promises to be right there with you, but he wants you back in community.
If you’ve been “wronged” by your family (the church) dear Christ follower and you’ve run from your family, it’s time to come home. Find a family of believers, drop the excuses and get in community where you can grow and do life with others. It’s not perfect. No, in fact sometimes it’s pretty ugly. But, in the end, you’ll need your family and more often than not, they’ll be by your side to guide you to Jesus and walk you through tough times.
Seek God with all of your heart, live graciously toward your fellow family members and watch God begin to change you as you live in community!
As always, if you’re interested in knowing more about the family of God and what it means to follow Christ, go to wdcxradio.com and contact us!
