We Are Family

I'm reading Joseph Hellerman's book, When the Church Was a Family: Recapturing Jesus' Vision for Authentic Christian Community. I'm reading the book because of my interest in the use of the family metaphor. I was also interested because Christianity Today listed it among the five top books on community.

Here is the way Hellerman begins the book.

"Spiritual formation occurs primarily in the context of community. People who remain connected with their brothers and sisters in the local church almost invariably grow in self-understanding, and they mature in their ability to relate in healthy ways to God and to their fellow human beings. Long-term interpersonal relationships are the crucible of genuine progress in the Christian life. People who stay also grow. People who leave do not grow."

In an age of hyper-individualism, I find Hellerman's analysis refreshing. There's something to be said about making relationships work. And did I mention that relationships take work? Just like our family of birth, we're stuck with one another. We might as well figure out how to make this relational thing work. At New Covenant, we call it becoming a "family of growing disciples."

Contrast this with the vision George Barna has for the follower of Christ, as outlined in his book, Revolution.

"Now its virtually impossible to craft a "typical" spiritual pattern, especially among people under the age of 40. Growing numbers of young adults, teenagers, and even adolescents are piecing together spiritual elements they deem worthwhile, constituting millions of personalized "church" models."

"Ultimately, we expect to see believers choosing from a proliferation of options, weaving together a set of favored alternatives into a unique tapestry that constitutes the personal "church" of the individual"

Personal church of the individual? This is a oxymoron. Collectively, together, we are the body of Christ, His bride. Or to use another metaphor, we are family!

On a group - individual continuum, place me toward the group side. My highest aim in life is not the pursuit of my personal goals and ambitions. Rather, I look for ways to serve my family, church and community for the glory of God, and for the good of others.

The family teaches me that the good of the whole is a worthy ambition. That relationships require sacrifice and service. That the world doesn't revolve around me and my wishes. And that people, even good people, will sooner or later disappoint and frustrate me.

The family also teaches me that some of lifes greatest joys can only be experienced with others. That meaning and satisfaction are found in the context of relationship. That together we can do more than any of us could do apart. That disappointment and trouble were never meant to be carried alone. And about the power of grace extended and grace received.

Given the option to choose between the Lone Ranger and Father Knows Best, I'll take Father Knows Best every time. Given the choice between the "church of the individual" or the church as family, count me in the family column!

I like the way Tim Keller describes this new tribal community, called out by God to be His family.

"The context for a gospel-centered life is never merely individual. The gospel creates a new community, a unique community. One of the immediate changes that the gospel makes is grammatical: we instead of I; our instead of my; us instead of me. This kind of new community is not an optional thing, an "extra" for the Christian; instead it's part of the overall purpose of God's kingdom."

"A new community is both the end of the gospel and also the means of spreading the gospel. God's promise in salvation is to create his "holy nation", a people that dwell with him forever. I will be your God and you will be my people." (Lev. 26:12, Jer. 30:22). So Christians, who are eternally united to Christ, are therefore eternally united to one another."

So, where are you? Are you a radical revolutionary, seeking out a portfolio of spiritual experiences in your quest for the personalized church of the individual? Or are you community connector, pursuing and serving God in the context of relationships? How do you understand the New Testament scriptures on the nature of the church?

Me? You know by now what I think ... we are family!