Where Do We Go From Here?

It seems a number of my preaching friends and church friends in general don’t understand something that is key to survival in “Church.” And that is that it is a family. That was God’s analogy (Ephesians 2:19; 1 Timothy 3:18; etc).  Now, I don’t know about your family but I have counseled many through the years and I have two physical families - (no, not one here and one in Arizona) the one I grew up in and the one I am in now. And I know a few things about families.  

I know there is always someone having some sort of direct or indirect drama. I know sometimes members of a family bring their own drama. I know sometimes people in a family argue. I know sometimes people in a family don’t do what is right. I know sometimes members of a family are disappointed in other members of the family.  I know sometimes members of a family hold grudges and bring up the past. I know every member of every family has struggles and problems. I know at times there is an undercurrent of uneasiness that streams through the family. I know sometimes members of a family don’t feel loved. I know some members of a family “disown” and disassociate themselves with their own family  - leave and never come back.  I know that hurts the family deeply. I know that sometimes the family is healthier then.  I know there are members of the family who experience all the above but still love the family with all of their hearts and strive to make it the best it can be and are thankful to be a part of that family.  I know. I know because that is the family I grew up in.  And, it is the family I still love - every member of it.

I know you know where this is going - but sometimes we forget. If my family of six or your family of four or the neighbors family of ten has problems but still is a family in love - why can’t you accept, understand and appreciate it when God’s Family of 50, 100, 500 or 5,000 experience problems. It does not mean the family is in trouble - it does mean we need to work to make the family the best it can be and to be the best family member we can be.  There will be drama, disappointments, arguments, grudges, struggles, problems, people who leave and people who love.  I'm most amazed when someone points this out to me as if they have told me something they think will shock me or that I am not aware of.  Don’t act so surprised. As soon as I say “things are good” someone can point to something that is bad.  It’s that way everywhere.  But in every family/Family I have ever been a part of there was MUCH more good than bad. I chose to see the good and try to help work through the bad. This is not heaven, but if we treat it right, it is as close as we'll get while on this earth.

“...He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). He’s not. Why should we be?