The Church as a Family

 Relationships are essential for a healthy church. Christians need to see themselves as living in a vital relationship with one another and in a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. Because relationships are so important, the New Testament sometimes describes the church as a spiritual family.

Galatians 6.10 says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers,” or “household of faith.” Through the new birth we’ve entered a new family, the family of God, the church. We’re spiritually related to every other believer, past, present, and future. We’re part of an amazing family tree! Some of our family members have endured great hardship for the sake of Jesus Christ. They’ve been persecuted, tortured, and even killed just for being a part of the family. Others, by God’s grace, have accomplished great things in the fields of science, medicine, education, literature, politics, and business. We have an amazing family.

The New Testament frequently describes Christians as brothers and sisters. For example, Hebrews 13.1 says, “Keep on loving each other as brothers.” First Peter 3.8 tells us, “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.” First Timothy 5.1-2 says, “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” These references remind us that we must treat our brothers and sisters with love, respect, and generosity. We’re to get along with them in unity and humility.

In addition to nurturing proper attitudes toward our church family, we’re to act as responsible family members. In 1 Timothy 3.15-16, Paul says that he expects us to “know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” We’re responsible to encourage one another, support one another, serve one another, and love one another.

So how does Jesus Christ fit into this image of the church as a family? Jesus described Himself as our Brother. In Mark 3.35 He says, “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Hebrews 2.11 reinforces this idea, saying, “Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.” Jesus is our Brother, made like us through the incarnation and related to us through our new birth. Through faith in Jesus Christ we become a part of God’s spiritual family, the church. Isn’t it great to be a part of the family of God!