Have you ever thought about your family? How many people make up your family? Two? Three or four? Five? Six? More? Is your family part of an extended family with grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins? How many families make up your extended family?
How are the individuals in your family the same or different from each other? How is your family the same or different from the family you grew up in? How is it the same or different from your brother’s or sister’s family?
As individuals, we all have our own personalities, likes and dislikes, gifts and talents, strengths and weaknesses, hopes and dreams, successes and failures, quirks. We look similar to our parents and siblings, but yet, there are distinct differences in how we look, too.
In a properly functioning family, each person is allowed the grace and freedom to be an individual. We encourage each other to grow and to develop into the person God has designed and called us to be. We celebrate each other’s successes and milestones. We comfort one another during the sad times. We encourage each other during the difficult times. In other words, we are there for each other.
And, even though we each have those things that make us uniquely us, there are those things that we all do because that is how our family does things. These things identify us as a family. We share common beliefs and inside jokes. We fold our towels a certain way.
And, the same is true for our extended family–we may all do some things similarly because each family is part of the larger family, but at the same time, our family probably is a little different from our brother’s or sister’s family. We may enjoy spending free time differently. Or, we may parent our children differently. We may manage our finances differently. Or, we may choose to celebrate holidays differently.
The same is true for the Body of Christ. Each local congregation is like a small family made up of individuals. Each individual has different gifts and callings, and as a church we should encourage each person to grow and flourish in these.
At the same time, there will be some things that identify the members of a congregation as belonging to “this” congregation. Those things that make this congregation its own small “family.” Perhaps it’s a congregation devoted to prayer. Or, maybe it’s a mission-minded church. It could be a church intent on serving the local community. Or, one focused on developing resources to grow mature believers. And, as a “family unit,” the congregation should be moving together in love and unity toward the same goals and vision. Following the lead of the pastor just like the members of a family follow the lead of the father and/or mother.
And, we should recognize that each of the other local congregations of believers in our towns and regions are also small “families.” We are all part of a larger family unit — the “extended” Family of God. We will all have the same major beliefs, and we will share some of the same characteristics. Yet, at the same, time, there will be those things that we do differently from each other. We need to recognize that this is okay — in fact, it is the way God has designed it. He has called each of us to be the same, and yet different.
We should relate to one another as individual families relate to one another in an extended family. We need to love one another unconditionally. We need to put aside jealousies and petty differences. We need to rejoice with each other when one “family” has success. And, we should mourn together when another “family” goes through a difficult season. We need to encourage one another. We must work together in unity to advance the Kingdom of God.
Let’s be the family God has called us to be!
Habakkuk Ministries 