#8 Realizing the Church is actually a Family #2

More Evidences from the New Testament

 

In the last entry in our series, we saw that Paul builds his explanation of Justification by Faith on the basis that inclusion in Abraham's “Promised” Family was never based on temporal corrupted flesh and it’s works but was based upon Faith from the presence of the eternal incorruptible Holy Spirit. And now that the Holy Spirit has been poured out in full at Pentecost upon the world, all the rest of the world, i.e. “the gentiles”, can now be “grafted in” and also become part of this “Promised Family”.  According to Paul’s narrative in the book of Romans, the idea of the Spiritual family is begun with the family of Abraham (the Jews), continued in the Gospels (as validated by Jesus in Matt. 12:46-48) with the “remnant”(Rom. 11:5) of the Jewish believers, and then incorporates the engrafted Gentiles. So the "Church" is not something entirely "new" but a new phase in the continuation of  God's Promises to Abraham for his descendents.

Hence the assumption of the reality of the Church as Family, in the continuation of the Promised Family of Abraham, and this is evidenced by the ubiquitous usage of family language and ideas in reference to the church in the N.T.

1. Father: πατήρ patḗr used approximately 224 times in the N.T. with primary reference to God as our Father and occasionally to human spiritual fathers. We are told to address God now as our Father when praying to Him.

2. Brother: ἀδελφός adelphós is used approximately 275 times in the N. T. when it refers to brother, brothers, brethren, other than physical relations. Beginning in the Gospels and the book of Acts Jesus and others often refer to the Jews as brothers (direct physical relatives of Abraham) though they are not children of the same father and mother. But then a transition begins to take place. Jesus makes it clear that those who do the will of God are His Mother, Brothers and Sisters Matt.12:46-48 not merely his physical relations to Joseph and Mary, as also Paul asserts in Rom. 2. “But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit”. And from then on through the N.T. some form of Brother (adelphós) is the standard term used with relation to other believers along with the feminine of ἀδελφή adelphḗ, sister, 10 times.

3. Children: τέκνον téknon, child or children used approximately 43 times in reference to being a child of God.

4. Born: γεννάω gennáō used approximately 18 times in reference to Spiritual Birth.

Being “born” is a family term for humankind, all those being born have a father and mother, i.e., a family.  Jesus could have used many different descriptions to explain the “quickening to life” that the Holy Spirit inaugurates to bring a person to Spiritual Life but He chose to use the phrase ‘born again” a term having clear family connotations and implications regarding the nature of this “quickening” by the Holy Spirit.

And in the same book by John the Apostle just two chapters earlier John says,

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Jn. 1:12.13

And in the next sentence He uses the term “begotten” … “from the Father” to describe the Son.

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Begotten”, is a term with implications taken literally from the earliest days of the New Testament Church upon which our whole understanding of Christ and His mission are based. It would seem highly unlikely that John would use one term literally to describe Christ’s relationship to the Father and not be “as literal” in the descriptions of the same idea when describing the “birthing” of Christians.

"Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is “born of the Spirit” is spirit." Jn.3

“for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” 1 Pet. 1:23

5. Adoption: υἱοθεσία huiŏthĕsia, adoption used 5 times in reference to being brought into the family of God.

And we could go on, but it seems to me from just what we have looked at here, that it is not outside the reasonable bounds of Scripture to understand ourselves as a literal Spiritual Family.

So in answer to the question that we began our series with “Who is my Church”? Is the answer not, “we are”!, …..“The Family of God”!

Next, if this is true then what are some of the implications for us as we seek to navigate the role of the Church in the culture of the 21^st century?

#9. So, if it is true that the Church is an actual family,

what should we do with this in our time?

The imperative and importance of “one anothering”.

 

A Re-Cap of the earlier series:

Persons and people are central in our understanding of who we are and what “the Church “is because God is The Eternal Person in the Universe and we are made in His Image as eternal persons or souls. "You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body," A paraphrase attributed to C.S. Lewis. We are a unique and special creation of God, in some ways Biblically mysterious due to our creation by Gods Divine Command to be made in His Image. How do we plumb the depth of that revelation? We can only say with David that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made”. We are not, as most of the world would have us believe, simply temporary, programable, controllable, electro-chemical machines, the result of some very lucky strands of amino acids, a well-timed lightning strike, and millions of years of very lucky but unexplainable upward progress! And “the Church” is not a building or institution, as the long etymological evolution of the term kirk-church in English is known to have slowly over time identified the people of God with their meeting houses. But it is an “ecclesia” in Greek, “a called-out assembly” …of people. And “Family” is the first, necessary, and most natural habitat for People. And as I have attempted to show in my earlier installments of my series, “Who is my Church?”, the language for rightly understanding the Church as a Family is not only abundant but appears to me to be very intentional. Again as I have written earlier I believe that It is important to highlight this now and work out it’s implications due to the de-personalizing, de-moralizing effects, and failed utopian promises of the Industrial Revolution and Enlightenment thinking that has gripped the world and molded much of it including the church, I believe, into its image in these last two centuries.

So, what are some of the implications of the Church being a Family?

The abundance of “one-anothering” in the New Testament.

The phrase “one another” is two words in English, but it’s only one word in Greek: ἀλλήλων (ah-LAY-loan). It’s used 100 times in 94 New Testament verses. 47 of those verses give instructions to the church, and 60% of those instructions come from Paul. Taken as a whole it describes the common, continuous, contact rich, mutual relationship that members of the Family of God are to have with one another.

 Family is about the word “mutual”.

Considering the common human Family, the nuclear Human family is perhaps the most salient example of natural “one anothering” in the world, or ought to be, perhaps aside from those who are engaged in battle together. The success or failure of the individual family throughout history has created a common bond of survival for which the future and well-being of the individual member is tied closely to the future and well-being of the group. Family is about the word “mutual” common, or shared, it implies reciprocity or a two-way relationship. One’s life, comfort, happiness, and success is, or should be, important to all the members of the family and it is assumed as a natural standard of human families to be a mutually reciprocal relationship. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” I Tim. 5:8

The Human Family should be a place of mutual:

1. Survival- safety, security, protection, provision, and pro-creation.

2. Belonging- identity, commonality, comradery, acceptance, love, where you are known- “where everybody knows your name”, your culture, your people, your history, and future.

3. Sympathy - compassion, help, support, mercy, forgiveness, “you wanna go where everybody knows your troubles are all the same”, those who will sacrifice or suffer for you.

4. Affirmation- those who are for your success, your cheerleaders, proud of you, praise your accomplishments.  

5. Knowledge- direction, guidance, example, mentorship, teaching, education,

So, the abundance of the “one another” commands in the New Testament reflects the same assumption of mutual responsibility and reciprocity of human families, as well as covering the very broad scope of common personal interactions. Further, these verses assume, or at least largely require, a contact rich relationship with other believers such as a family.

 

The “one another” commands:

 

Love One Another

•“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

•“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

•“These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” (John 15:17)

•“Love one another with brotherly affection.” (Romans 12:10a)

•“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)

•“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

•“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)

•“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.” (1 Peter 1:22)

•“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

•“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:11)

•“And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” (1 John 3:23)

•“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)

•“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:11-12)

•“And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.” (2 John 1:5)

Honor One Another

•“Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10b)

Greet One Another

•“Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.” (Romans 16:16)

•“All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (1 Corinthians 16:20)

•“Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (2 Corinthians 13:12)

•“Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” (1 Peter 5:14)

Welcome One Another

•“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)

Show Hospitality to One Another

•“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9)

Have Fellowship With One Another

•“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

Agree With One Another

•“…agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11b)

Live in Harmony With One Another

•“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” (Romans 12:16)

•“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.” (Romans 15:5)

Be at Peace With One Another

•“Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” (Mark 9:50)

Be Kind to One Another

•“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted…” (Ephesians 4:32a)

Forgive One Another

•“…forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32b)

•“…and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:13b)

Bear With One Another

•“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3)

•“Bearing with one another…” (Colossians 3:13a)

Bear One Another’s Burdens

•“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

Comfort One Another

•“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another…” (2 Corinthians 13:11a)

Care for One Another

•“That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.” (1 Corinthians 12:25)

Confess Sins to One Another

•“Therefore, confess your sins to one another…” (James 5:16a)

Pray for One Another

•“…and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16b)

Encourage One Another

•“Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

•“Therefore encourage one another…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11a)

•“Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25)

Build One Another Up

•“…and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11b)

Exhort One Another

•“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13)

Instruct One Another

•“I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14)

Teach and Admonish One Another

•“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

Sing With One Another

•“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” (Ephesians 5:19)

Stir Up One Another to Love and Good Works

•“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” (Hebrews 10:24)

Do Good to One Another

•“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Serve One Another

•“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)

•“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10)

Wash One Another’s Feet

•“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.” (John 13:14)

Wait for One Another

•“So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.” (1 Corinthians 11:33)

Be Humble Toward One Another

•“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (1 Peter 5:5)

Submit to One Another

•“Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)

Speak the Truth to One Another

•“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” (Ephesians 4:25)

•“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.” (Colossians 3:9)

Do Not Speak Against One Another

•“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.” (James 4:11)

•“Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” (James 5:9)

Do Not Judge One Another

•“Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” (Romans 14:13)

Do Not Provoke One Another

•“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another…” (Galatians 5:26a)

Do Not Envy One Another

•“…envying one another.” (Galatians 5:26b)

The preponderance of these “one another “verses punctuate a responsibility and duty that our Father requires of the children of His Family. Please note that these commands/ exhortations are not addressed to pastors but expected of the common members of the Family of God.

 

So, this leads us to some questions.

 If these were being carried out faithfully by the members of the church as a whole, how would that affect the understanding of the job or work of pastors and elders? Would we have a different understanding of the Church? Instead of waiting for someone to give us permission or tell us what to do when we have a plethora of commands and exhortations from the Lord to be building up the body “one anothering”, what if it was understood, welcomed, planned, and expected for common members to take orderly initiative in the daily work of building up the body. Do worker ants have to always wait for instructions or permission from their queen in order to build up their colony? Yet they all have a place and a duty to their “family”. So, should mutual “one anothering” be taught as an understood responsibility of all members of the church, depending upon their talents, gifts, opportunity, and ability? Should Christian human families teach and require this of their children in their own family beginning at an early age?

Also, the number and presence of these commands have lately gained the attention of a number of writers and pundits who are concerned with the “mechanical” direction of some of the church and are exploring more personal themes for it. So why has this not been noted or emphasized until lately? Is it that some of today’s church leadership has drifted into a controlling form of sacerdotalism, (the belief that church leaders, through ordination, hold a special and unique role as mediators between God and church members), similar to but not as pronounced as the Roman Catholic Church or the Pharisees in Israel? Or is it that church members have gladly given over the “work” of the church and abandoned their roles (through ignorance or neglect) to the leadership? Or a failure of both together? What can explain this failure of emphasis and realistic provision for this highly commanded and required work within the body of Christ? Who can answer this?

But regardless:

Does the presence and content of the above verses strengthen the idea that the Church should understand itself and to work together more as Family?  

Would understanding ourselves as a family and beginning to practice more consistantly the spirit and commands of "oneanothering", help us in 21st century America to be a more healthy and a more attractive solution for those in the world searching for truth and authenticity? Does this show a more warm side to the truth to what Jesus meant when He said , "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life"...Jn.14:6?  

I suspect that you may already know how I would answer that question.

Yes, I believe so!

May God Bless,

Jonny