Family Outside of Family

This past week, I was able to visit a church here in my hometown that has really been a huge part of my spiritual journey. God has really laid on my heart to write about how important having a church family is. So many times in my life, I have heard people say they don't need to go to church to be a good "Christian" and I don't disagree. A handful of people seem to be discouraged or have nasty tastes in their mouths from a bad experience with a church; my heart hurts for those people. After each of these conversations, I walk away with the same thought: "I don't know where I would be if I didn't have a church family." Quite honestly, I believe church is so important in following Christ.


I grew up in the church. In high school, I began going to Bible study at a different church than my "home" church. I didn't know that 4 years later they would be supporting me as I travelled to North Africa. My mentors and friends came from this church. They guided me spiritually and supported me on my walk with Christ (and still do!) When I walked into this church this week (and interrupted their lunch) they welcomed me with open arms (and even gave me a piece of delicious cake!). Never have I left this church (or of being with the people of this church) feeling empty or discouraged. They have done so much for me, including: providing the resources and leadership for great Bible studies, having retreats and many other events, commissioning me on my trip to North Africa, praying over and for me, allowing me to speak to their congregation, and just being my family outside of my true family. Seriously, how blessed I have been by this church and this group of people!


Everybody needs a family like this. Everybody needs a church home.


My heart breaks when people share stories about how the church let them down, or the ways that humans ruin church. Let me make something clear: those stories shed light on the work of the devil, not on God. The enemy will do everything in his power to turn believers away from church, because a body of believers is the devil's worst nightmare. That is why it is so much more important that the people of God are unified, because it is hard for Satan to attack a big body of believers. To him, those walking alone are the "easy catches."


I don't mean to scare you or offend you...but make a simple point. Church is important for every single believer of Christ. Being a part of an army of people seeking to bring the Lord glory is so vital. 


From my experience, the body of Christ has:

                    been the place where I have found God's love, 

                    where the seed of faith was planted in my heart,

                    guided me and helped nourish my faith,

                    brought me hope when I had none,
                    supported me in the journeys that God has lead me on,
                    always had my back in prayer,
                    always extended a hand when I have fallen,
                    become my family outside of my family.


And God wants all of this and more for you. Not only does church play an important role in the follower's life, each person has an important role in the church. 


1 Corinthians 12:12-26 
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.


I love this passage of scripture. We are ALL a part of the body. Without YOU, we would not be complete. As verse 25 says, "there should be no division in the body...parts should have equal concern for each other." The body of Christ suffers together and rejoices together. 


If you are not a part of a body of believers, I strongly encourage you to seek out the place where you feel welcomed. 


There truly is something so beautiful about having a church family. I pray that one day, you get to experience that for yourself.