What is a Church Family?

 

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A Christian thought to ponder ...

Is the church family like a marriage? 

A church family is a group of believers or followers of Jesus Christ who are members of God’s household. God is our Father, and we are His children. We are brothers and sisters united in Christ and that union binds us together and makes us a family in the Lord. And as Hebrews 10:24-25 states, the church family meets together to worship God and exercises unconditional love, encouragement, and good deeds towards one another. 

Hebrews 10:24-25

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The church is a body of imperfect people with different nationalities, personalities, and backgrounds. It is a gathering of sinners who are saved by grace. The church family is there for one another through the good times and bad times. Pretty much like when one states in their wedding vows, “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,” you are pledging a commitment to your church family during the good times and bad times.

  

There are many reasons why people will walk away from their church family just like when a couple gets a divorce. Most reasons are centered around unsatisfied needs. A few of those reasons are their feelings get hurt, they don’t get their way about something, they do not handle correction well, there are not enough programs, the worship music is terrible, the pastor’s sermons are too long, or they don’t feel a connection. 

By the way, many times when you don’t feel a connection with your church family, it is because you don’t get involved or plugged in. There are several ways you can get involved with your church family, such as send a sister or brother in Christ an encouragement card or text message, help out with a meal train for a sick church family member, help with childcare or nursery, pray for the church and church family members, disciple, and shepherd one another, attend a Bible study or group Bible study, and serve within the church body. Get to know your brothers and sisters in Christ, then you can say this is where I belong, and this is my church family, and always keep God at the center. 

However, when a church doesn't keep God at the center, steps away from sound doctrine, becomes politicized, and is following the world’s agenda, you need to take a step back and look at that church and determine if it is following scripture. After Covid, many people went back to their church only to discover that it had completely transformed. Their church was no longer concerned with spiritual Truth but was now concerned with advancing a world agenda.

If you see unsound doctrine within your church family, you need to point it out and back it up with scripture. If you see something lacking within your church body, then you need to step up and serve or approach the elders and pastor about your concern. My question to you is, if not you, then who? Perhaps God has appointed you to this task.

One day all believers will be united. It will be a great family reunion! Newborns, children, teenagers, adults, elderly, disabled, and family members you did not know you even had will one day be with the Lord forever. Differences of opinions, disappointments, confusion, and emotional pain will no longer exist. It’s going to be a time that we can’t even imagine. It will be a glorious day!

Heavenly Father, 

We live in a fallen and broken world that is full of snares and traps that try to bring down the church and your family members. Please give the church and its family members the strength to endure and overcome obstacles. Cover them with your strength, Lord! Help the church and church families to grow spiritually and have a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Help the church and families to love one another and walk in forgiveness and kindness.

In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

Pray you all have a blessed day!

Carol Moore

Fan or Follower One Must Stand Up for the Truth

Christian thought to ponder....

Are you fan of Jesus or a follower of Jesus?

I just finished the book, Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman. You can check it out here notafan.com . It is a book I think every Christian, young or old, should read. Idleman's book has deeply inspired me and my Christian walk. It has made me stop and think, where do I fit into these two categories: am I a fan of Jesus, or am I a follower of Jesus.

If you are a fan of Jesus, you do not strive to have a personal relationship with Jesus, and you are just a pew warmer on Sundays. You do not strive to be Christ-like in all that you do or say. Fans have a quasi-relationship with Jesus that is based upon their own ideas as to what a Christian is supposed to be and do. A fan's life is basically centered around oneself and not around God. It's all about me, me, me and serving oneself, and not focused on God and serving him. 

It states in Matthew 4:10 we are to only server the Lord God.

Matthew 4:10 "... for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

So, do you serve yourself, or do you serve the Lord? I think, if I were to grade myself, it would have to be a C+ mainly because I think I let my insecurities and health affect my ability to serve, especially in a public setting. I am so uncomfortable around lots of people and have a hard time going up and talking to people. I have to force myself to talk to people. I allow this insecurity and phobia to interfere with serving the Lord. I have also let school interfere with my serving the Lord. Presently, I feel more like an outsider in my church because I do not have the time to attend the women's Bible Study anymore or participate in other activities within the church. After all, 90% of my time is spent at school and studying.

However, my relationship with Him has become more intimate than it has ever been before. Since he opened the doors for me to return to college, I seek the Lord daily; and I pray daily for the Lord's guidance, wisdom, and knowledge. I try to read the Word every day. Also, I will try to read a devotion, listen to a sermon, or listen to worship music on my way to school. On Friday mornings, I study the Word with a sister in Christ. On Saturday mornings, I participate in an online Bible study at the Women's Bible Café. 

In Idleman's book, it mentions how a fan 's light has been doused and is barely flickering. Even though I may not be able to show my passion for the Lord on the outside, as other Christians do, my joy and passion for the Lord burns zealously bright within my heart and soul and behind my pen. But I need to learn how to share and display my joy with others and share why I place my hope, faith, and trust in Him and not in the things of this world.

These insecurities hold me back from being a true follower of Jesus Christ. My social anxiety problems, my stuttering when nervous, my poor memory, and my low opinion of myself are just excuses. Also, I will let our finances hold me back. I let my past sins hold me back from being a true follower as well. All of these are excuses. The enemy drives it into my head that I am worthless trash. I  get it into my head that no one would want to associate with me or be my friend. Following Jesus, as Idleman points out, should be our top priority. And that means giving all of ourselves to him and laying down all distractions of this world, including the distractions of our insecurities and of our past.

So how will I be a follower? Well for one thing, I think this blog is one way to reach the millions of people who do not know Jesus personally. If I could reach just one soul through this blog, I would be ecstatic. Once this last school year is complete, I pray the Lord will open doors for me to serve Him with my art and web design. My hope is to start designing web sites for Christian ministries and non-profit organizations. Also, I hope to use my art and photography to serve the Lord. I would love to start a ministry of providing hand decorated hope boxes to women who are being released from jail or prison and facing re-entry back into the community. I want to show them our Lord is a Lord of love, compassion, and mercy through these hope boxes by providing tracts, a small Bible and other items. I have a heart for the elderly, so I want to help serve in this area. I am not certain what direction the Lord will lead me once I graduate from college, but I have full confidence and trust in him that He will open the doors and lead the way to where he wants me to serve.

And the Lord will lead us. We must place our trust in him, and as Idleman stated in his book, Jesus told Matthew in 9:9 follow me, and Matthew got up and followed him. 

Matthew 9:9 "As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him."

A follower can be anyone, a tax collector, an inmate, a disabled person, a black person, a white person, a poor person, a rich person, a welder, a waitress, a divorcee, anyone. God has a plan for each and every one of us. Heaven does not throw stones. There is only one requirement to be a follower, repent and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and believe that He died on the cross for your sins.

Are you ready to follow now? If not, when? Jesus didn't have a pillow to lay his head on at night or a place to call home. He reached thousands of people by preaching, sharing, and healing, and he sent his disciples out into the world to share the truth with others. 

Many Christians let the things of this world define who they are instead of Jesus and his message. So many of us have stepped back from the Truth that Jesus instructed us o go out and share to the world. We let fear keep us from serving,  and many Christians have compromised their beliefs. They do not know what it truly means to follow Jesus and obey the Word. When we took up the cross, accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we chose to follow Him and not the ways of this world. If we step back now in fear, the enemy wins. Fan or follower, We must be united and stand up for the Truth, live our lives like Jesus. It is important that our attitudes, hearts and minds reflect Jesus not this world. Something I think many of us have failed at, including myself. 

God Bless Brothers and Sisters,
Carol