Greetings,

What do I mean when I say “The Family of God”? The word "family" can bring about many thoughts and emotions, some good and some bad. Physically, every person has a family history and a lineage. Some people know their family history going back hundreds of years and some people don’t know who their biological parents are. 

The Bible values family both in a physical and theological sense. The traditional family unit of a man and a woman, parenting children, is the oldest institution on earth. It dates back to the beginning of creation.

Family is an important concept to everyone, unbeliever or not. I think it is a fair definition, generally, to say that the family is where lessons in relationships are first learned. Family is meant to bring a sense of dependability, confidence, acceptance and significance. Family is where we are educated about respect for each other and respect for our own personal responsibilities within the family structure.

Family is meant to love and assure us that someone will be there for us through the good times and the bad. Family, when at its best, offers encouragement, understanding, hope, comfort, advice, values, morals, ideals, and faith. These things are all important because they make us feel a sense of stability regardless of what is going on in life. 

Jesus began to splinter major concepts of what it meant to be part of a family: "While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’ He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matthew 12:46-50).

At first glance it feels like Jesus is a little dismissive toward his immediate family. Of course, we know He is not being disrespectful. He is showing the upside down notion that the family of God supersedes our blood family. He is preparing His disciples to understand that the blood of Christ is more secure than genetic blood lines. He is showing the frailty and temporary nature of familial bonds and the stability and eternal nature of our bond within the family of God.

The structure of the family is a matter of debate and has been for centuries among the secular and the sacred. Lines have been blurred in such a away that it creates conflict to define family at all.

The family of God has a definite and clear head. Jesus the son, our Savior and redeemer, is our bridegroom and we who believe in Jesus as our Savior, collectively, make up the bride of Christ. Because of our salvation we are children of God and co-heirs with Christ. The defining lines are not blurry at all and we can rejoice together as the family of God.

The family of God is a legitimately beautiful thing to be a part of and I am so delighted to call you my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Love ya,
Chris