The Church as Christan Agar for Family - Glorfying God as a Church part 2

I love the role of petri dish agar in microbiology. My lay understanding (non-scientific) of the gelatinous substance is that it is a nutrient-rich foundation for encouraging intense and accelerated growth of small organisms in a controlled environment. What if churches were seen this way?

The Bible describes family as the basic building block of community and individual growth. However, “family” in scripture is defined more broadly than we define it today. Briefly, scriptural family is basically relational connections that tie people together socially, economically, emotionally, biologically and/or geographically. God is described in family terms (Father-Son). Adam and Eve, the twelve tribes of Israel, Ruth and Naomi, Jesus and Joseph (adoption), Jesus and church (bride and groom), church family (siblings) etc.

What if the church community was seen a “agar” for families – a nutrient-rich environment of interconnected relationships that encouraged spiritual growth for all members (married, single, young, old, rich, poor, etc). People living in effective, godly relationships “naturally” grow into families. People in “family” are healthier and their needs are met better. People in spiritual families, connected and active are spiritually healthier.

If the church encourages family relationships among members, the church is glorifying God by reflecting what it means for God to be in “family” with Himself and with His people.

In what ways can the church be “agar” – developing everyone in families – reflecting the nature of God?

Glorifying God as a Church

I appreciate the input of the anonymous contributor to my last blog. The idea of representing Christ to the world is vital to the church. In 2 Cor. 1:3-4 Paul says “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” For some reason, God has chosen to work through human agents (us) to bring His comfort – to represent Him through godly compassion.

Later, in the same letter (2 Cor. 5:20) he writes, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us...” What? God communicates to the world through us humans; through the church? Yes – and so it is essential that we learn to represent him accurately.

Jesus said "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19) In essence, if the church is like the world, she will be attractive to them. If the church is like Jesus she will be hated by the world, just like him.

So what are some practical ways the church can maintain this vital separate-from-the-world Christ-likeness that accurately portrays the grace and the truth of Christ? Here are a few suggestions.

1. Talk about the love of Christ openly and how much he has done for us. (Mat. 10:32)
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.”

2. Have compassion on the lost, the sick, the hungry, the orphans, widows, etc. (Mat. 9:36)
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

3. Act out that compassion in very physically involving ways. (Mat. 25:40)
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

4. Be up front about the moral standards God expects of his people. (Luke 14:28)
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?”

5. Let outsiders act like outsiders instead of imposing Christ’s morals on them without a relationship with Christ first. (1 Cor. 5:12)
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?”

6. Expect and allow Christians to have a past. (1 Tim 1:13)
“Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.”

7. Drink deeply and daily from scripture to know God better. To reflect him we must know him. (2 Tim 3:16-17)
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

8. Base what we do upon scripture - keeping cautious, as a church, to not go beyond what is written (1 Cor 4:6 NIV)
"Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, 'Do not go beyond what is written.' Then you will not take pride in one man over against another."

These are just a few examples of ways I believe the church should reflect Jesus accurately. It is not a comprehensive list. What other ways can we reflect Christ to the world in grace and truth?