Examining Our Identities – Family

In continuing our conversation upon a Christian’s identity [since we are a new creation in Christ], let’s consider family. To be sure, each Christian is birthed into the Body of Christ and is now the people of God. We are one in Christ and Christ is our head from whom the whole Body is supported. However, an important distinction lies here in that you cannot be in the family of God until you are a disciple. And obviously you cannot be a disciple until you are a born again from the dead by God [Ephesians 2:5].

Therefore, if we are disciples, let us continue on. There is a verse in Proverbs that we’d do well to consider when talking about the family of God - [18:1] Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.

Herein lies the great plague to the American church – isolation, or to put it more favorably [though in actuality it’s not], individualism. We have more money, time, vacations and physicians to make us feel better, but we feel worse. We drive our own cars to work by ourselves, then come home, shut our garage doors and sit in front of the TV for three hours and though someone may be in the room with us, we might as well be alone. We masturbate and watch porn alone, we eat alone, and we sleep alone. We have our own possessions and our own clothes. The closest thing to community for many people is a drunken, naked party…and that’s the world putting us to shame because they out party us. We pride ourselves in not living this way, but at least they have community.

Enough of that, how ought our family to look? And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

The family shared spiritual disciplines together.

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

The family saw the power of God together and were in constant marvel; they had something to be enthusiastic about.

And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

The family’s possessions were not for their individual selves, but for all the saints to enjoy. This included their homes, their food, their time, their money and their possessions.

And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

The family took care of the needs of one another; it was an incredible welfare program of the church, for the church. The needs met were the poor, the widows, orphans, even middle-class if there was a specific need that could be met by all.

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.

The family joined corporately and in community groups within the homes of the saints, which allowed for corporate celebration, the gift of hospitality of homeowners, distributing of possessions, gratitude for what they did have, the spiritual disciplines, and comfort/counsel for one another. Also, their city knew who they were; they were not disconnected from them [they had favor with the people of the city].

And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The family was seeing souls saved. Many today are never around any new believers because our churches are not conducive to see this type of family life. Some churches are and this is the way to greater joy for ourselves and greater glory to God.

The benefits of such family life are vast.

The question perhaps to ask ourselves is, “How are we being the family today?” “Church” is cliché, let’s switch it up, call ourselves family, live as family, and be the church God has always desired we be! After all, this is our identity. We will either be a good family or bad one; we will either use our gifts for the edification of one another or we will keep them to ourselves.