The Church Family

The church has often been described as a family. Jesus in Luke 8.21 describes the church in this manner. Through this illustration we can gain much insight into the church. In my own home for example, my father worked hard to provide for us both physically and spiritually. One of the wonderful examples my parents gave was that they loved my siblings and me greatly but they also loved others. It was not uncommon while I was growing up to have people come and live in my home anywhere from a few weeks to a few years. My parents would include these visitors, feed them, and sometimes even clothe them but never at the expense of our family’s care, morals, principles, and convictions. My upbringing was never neglected because of these visitors in fact they often were instrumental in bringing growth to my life.

I believe the church can and should function in a similar fashion. Mark Dever wrote, “The main weekly Lord’s Day gathering of a church is primarily for Christians, not non-Christians. Therefore we should deliberately set about to plan the service – including our preaching – with our primary end as the glorification of God through the edification of the church. Certainly evangelism can be a part of […] but it is never the main point. Our expositional sermons are preached to feed the flock entrusted to our care.” (GPTG pg. 131) In the same way my father’s goal was always his family’s edification. But in that he could bless others through the process he did. Imagine if instead my parents focused more on the visitors than the inhabitants. It would be disastrous. Similarly, if a church focuses only on its visitors and not on its members, the result will be frightening.

What then, should we ignore all people who were not born into our family? Will the family of God never expand because our focus is solely on ourselves? By no means! My parents provided me also with a second example. When I was five years old we adopted a nine-year-old Brazilian girl. The process of adoption was completely different then when non-family lived with us. There were aspects of our family that a visitor could simply not comprehend but only observe. We could explain different activities but because on the fundamental level they were not family they could not understand. With Julie however it was different. She was now part of the family. Down to the fundamental level she was one of us. What she didn’t understand we explained. What she didn’t know, we taught. What she did wrong, was corrected and if needed disciplined.

In the church we will always have visitors. If we lose focus and neglect the children of God we do a great disservice. We do not ignore the visitors but understand that on a fundamental level they cannot participate or understand all that we do. When a visitor becomes a brother though, at that point they are the same as us and for them we go to great lengths. This process begins and is completed by God

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8.14-16

The balance is the hard part. At what point is accommodating visitors too much in that it ends up neglecting the family?