Monday: The Household of God
Another image of the people of God in the New Testament is the house or household of God. It is a metaphor of stones and buildings that highlight the intricate and interdependent nature of human relationships in the church. Peter refers to Christians as “living stones” (1 Pet. 2:5). This metaphor also contains a quality of permanency and solidity.
Read Ephesians 2:19-22. What key ideas does Paul emphasize in this passage? What does this image tell us about unity in the church?
In this passage, Paul combines two images of the church: one inert, a house or building; the other alive, a household of people.
Image © Providence Collection Goodsalt.com
A stone is not very valuable by itself, but when it is bonded with other stones, it becomes a structure that can withstand the storms of life. No Christian can be a stone alone, but must be associated with others in the fellowship of the household of God. For an edifice to be solid, it must rest on a strong foundation. Jesus Christ is this foundation, and the “cornerstone” of the house of God (see also 1 Cor. 3:11). The church also would cease to exist if it did not make Christ the cornerstone of its activities. The church is really about Jesus Christ: His life, death, resurrection, and return. The church forms a community of believers united to share the good news about Jesus to the world. The church’s agenda is Jesus: who He is, what He has done for us and does in us, and what He offers to anyone who will accept Him as Lord and Savior.
The image of a household is also very meaningful. This one rests on the relationships people have among themselves. It is a familiar image of father and mother, brothers and sisters. Ties between family members can be strong, and the accompanying loyalties often transcend all other outside ties. Loyalty is a big part of unity, for how could there be any kind of unity without loyalty, as well?
How does this image relate to the church? Church members are also part of one big family. We are linked, not only because we belong to the human family through our common ancestor Adam but also because we are related to Jesus, the Second Adam, through our common “new birth” experience. Thus, we become united with each other, not just because of the doctrinal truths that we hold in common but also in the experience of being converted souls who have a new life in Jesus.
Sadly, not everyone has had a great experience with his or her own family. Hence, that image might not mean much to them. How, though, can we as a church become the family that these people never had? |
(38)
Loyalty is the key to the unity the household of God. There has been several times that people have felt betrayed and rejected in the household of God. The lesson is clear that we are to show loyalty to one another. We are to be faithful stewards to God and to ourselves and that will tell of commitment to Christ
In these times I can never be sure how well the "family" image of the church works for you. Although my immediate family was small (3 kids + parents), we had an extended family of uncles, aunts, and cousins scattered across Australia and NZ. Interestingly, when we catch up with one another we always feel at home and comfortable with one another. It is a great way to be. Weddings and even funerals bring us together and we have a great sharing time. We don't all agree on everything, but we have enough in common to put aside the differences and share together in our common heritage.
Is our church like that? Would you like our church to be like that? What is our great common heritage? And what are the issues that we can disagree on and still be "church family"? I often hear a lot about what is wrong with the church, but do we ever stop to even think about what is right with our church family. Maybe we need a change in perspective.
I´ve just had a great church family meeting for a couple of days, the Aventurer´s Regional Meeting that we took our daughter to and stayed there to help. I really worked a lot but I had the sense that we were all a big family. Everyone had a task to fulfil. More than 2 thousand people in one place, eating, slepping and worshiping together. I felt a bit like a disciple at Pentecost´s.
We need to show love frendship, understanding, cmpasion, longsuffering, forgiving, agreement in truth... treat all people of the church as part of the family of God, not just as our family is treated but as part of the family of God. Yes, start now, not necessarally after you have fully grown. Oh I can't do that it is not my personality. Yes you can is you give your will to the Homy Spirit. You can do it if you don't ask the Holy Spirit to be your guide, but it is not genuine or lasting. "Steps to a personal revival"
My wife is the only SDA in her family. I am the only SDA in my family. We go to spend Thanksgiving Day with her non-SDA family and we take a single SDA friend who is also the only SDA in his family with us and include him too, and her non-SDA family accepts him as part of their Thanksgiving celebration too.
I have had a great family life growing up. Five sisters and two brothers. I'm now grown but still reminder those days. I have some beautiful church family that helps to bring back those days. Different parts of the world, but when we get together one will never know. Unity helps healing along with prayer.
I think we get a true view of the household of God if we view it like the population were try to minister to (looking from the outside,in). How do they view the household? How did I use to view the household? When initially presented to me (11 years ago), the representation was way more than loyalty. The image of the household of God I received was "family". Being in the family of God speaks volumes and glorifies our Savior. To an unbeliever I can speak "loyalty", but I would rather speak "family". I would rather demonstrate "family"...on earth as it is in heaven. Family is a strategy for our mission field to share and bring in others...or am I way off base?
Family is personal to most that have or have had, relatives. We are not the same as a "church" family, and thus applications and comparisons become a stretch of the imagination. Most of the congregations that we are members of never agree on every situation that becomes a source of contention. Unity then, is not easily achieved. Even when we pray for help from God, the hearts of some are hardened to the point of resentment and the issue continues to grow and "Family" is rather distant.
"I'm so glad, I'm a part of yhe family of God..." because I have this sensational feeling of BELONGING. This only binds me strongly together with other members through my LOYALTY regardless of impurities in the church. Thank you Jesus.
In a family, we are always bonded together no matter the circumstances that face us. When we mess we are ready to forgive and move on as a family. When I was growing up, my father used to call us for family meetings where we would pin point mistakes in our brothers and sisters.
We are not afamily Just because we share the same beliefs but Just because the second Adam gave us a New life by faith. As we were born again through christ that only makes us afamily
During my childhood there was a plaque on the wall stating that, "Christ is the unseen guest...the silent listener... For to me to live is Christ."
While this served to help govern the atmosphere of our home, to set it aside from its surroundings, the same could be said for the church.
The symbol of the cornerstone is a poignant reminder that, "The church's agenda is Jesus."
The Jesus agenda may be highlighted, amongst other times, as:
Each member is solidly surrendered to the Creator, accepting the provision of eternal life, through Jesus;
A preacher prays a prayer of consecration and commitment to glorifying Christ through the preparation and delivery of his/her Scriptural sermon;
Members and families are individually comforted and supported, by relevant church departments, during times of grief and loss; or, during times of joy and celebration;
The church serves the community through disaster relief, following "an act of nature";
Home, church and school unite in nurturing healthy service-oriented lives/leaders; and,
The good news of Jesus' soon return is shared and lived out ...to draw all to faith in Him.