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?
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?
posted by Daniel Cherry at 9:08 AM
2 Comments:
I think you're right on, DP. Just like Augustine refers to the "God-shaped hole" that humanity has, I think we have a Mommy hole (like I told you that I've tried to fill), a Daddy hole, a romance hole, and a paternal/maternal hole, et. al. Where many single's ministries miss it is that they urge folks to let God completely fill them up when that's not quite realistic. While it's great for people in like stages to associate (e.g. teens, superstars, etc.), it's also important to incorporate folks from different stages together. You could even use the missions buzz-word "holism." ;-)
It was so good to see you tonight. You are going to do so well at Jenks.
Philip III
There is a great hunger in many of our young marrieds and young families. We have our youth ministers and they do a wonderful job. It is good to know that people are spending time with the teens and helping them develop spiritually. They go off to college or go to a local college and there is a little less, if not a whole lot less, for them to be involved in at church. Then they get married and start families and normally there is nothing for them to be involved in as a group until they are 60 and they can be part of a 39ers group or whatever the congregation calls that ministry.
The problem is that we get involved in plate spinning. Milton Jones notes that 95% of Christians become Christians before the age of 25. So what do we do? We focus our efforts on providing plenty of opportunity for those 25 and under to be spiritual nourished. It is vitally important that this happens. But what I would like to suggest is that we are aiming at a symptom (maintaining people today) rather than having the vision to help the church grow steadily in 20+ years. If we build strong young families in the church, they will raise children who will most likely stay in the church. A youth minister cannot have as dramatic an impact on a teen as godly parents can. We need to grow godly parents. The problem has been the great need to maintain those who have not had such an upbringing that we often lack the resources and focus to keep our young families healthy. Afterall, we will have years before their children are old enough to know any better (at least, that is our copout). If we have vision, we will help our young families and young couples grow into strong disciples who will raise godly children. Our youth ministry will then turn into supplimenting what is already happening at home (in addition to bringing in unchurched teens and discipling them). We can never forget the importance of reaching parents and families. Children make easy numbers. But children who do not have invested parents normally don't last.
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