Dr. Watson, I can so, relate to this article. In addition to the Biblical texts that you’ve listed, I’d like to offer one more, and a hymn as well. In Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, he wrote these words, “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, since all of us share the one bread.” (1 Corinthians 10:17) And then there is the hymn, Blessed Be the Tie that Binds. I know that while these do not address our familial relationships directly, they do emphasize our oneness in Christ. Personally, I find myself able to experience a closer relationship with some other believers, regardless of their denominational identity, than some within my own biological family. I believe it to be so, because of our common indwelling of the Spirit. I consider the Wesleyan classes and bands to be a grossly under utilized gem within Christianity. I definitely believe that some sort of small group gatherings are the key to building healthy, spiritually mature congregations.
Loneliness and isolation has become the scourge of modern society. We often do not know our neighbors or fear them. I was part of a "visitation team" from my church. We would visit church members who were homebound or in the hospital. There was one woman who I refused to visit because her home had multiple cats that were not cared for properly. Her house stank. Sometimes people are lonely because there are barriers to keep others away. Others we visited were very appreciative. Some were close to the end of life but there was peace and joy. Christian life should end with the comfort of knowing you have run the race and are ready to go home to be with the Lord. I agree church should be family. There should be closeness and those qualities of vulnerability, transparency and trust. We are called to love one another. That can only happen when we know each other. Thank you Dr. Watson.
Interesting. I find the idea of adopted mothers and fathers a new one while brothers and sisters as children of God the Father not new. The Mark 3:33-35 passage certain doesn't mince words. The Mark 10 passage is even more so. We say "brothers and sisters in Christ" all the time but what would happen with our church dynamic if we actually began looking at everyone at our local church, and the body Christian, as family like we do our blood relations? That might change the dynamic I think.
Dr. Watson, I can so, relate to this article. In addition to the Biblical texts that you’ve listed, I’d like to offer one more, and a hymn as well. In Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, he wrote these words, “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, since all of us share the one bread.” (1 Corinthians 10:17) And then there is the hymn, Blessed Be the Tie that Binds. I know that while these do not address our familial relationships directly, they do emphasize our oneness in Christ. Personally, I find myself able to experience a closer relationship with some other believers, regardless of their denominational identity, than some within my own biological family. I believe it to be so, because of our common indwelling of the Spirit. I consider the Wesleyan classes and bands to be a grossly under utilized gem within Christianity. I definitely believe that some sort of small group gatherings are the key to building healthy, spiritually mature congregations.
Loneliness and isolation has become the scourge of modern society. We often do not know our neighbors or fear them. I was part of a "visitation team" from my church. We would visit church members who were homebound or in the hospital. There was one woman who I refused to visit because her home had multiple cats that were not cared for properly. Her house stank. Sometimes people are lonely because there are barriers to keep others away. Others we visited were very appreciative. Some were close to the end of life but there was peace and joy. Christian life should end with the comfort of knowing you have run the race and are ready to go home to be with the Lord. I agree church should be family. There should be closeness and those qualities of vulnerability, transparency and trust. We are called to love one another. That can only happen when we know each other. Thank you Dr. Watson.
Interesting. I find the idea of adopted mothers and fathers a new one while brothers and sisters as children of God the Father not new. The Mark 3:33-35 passage certain doesn't mince words. The Mark 10 passage is even more so. We say "brothers and sisters in Christ" all the time but what would happen with our church dynamic if we actually began looking at everyone at our local church, and the body Christian, as family like we do our blood relations? That might change the dynamic I think.