BUILDING THE CHURCH THROUGH THE FAMILY

          The topic above has two principal components, the Church and the family. This paper discussion intends to show the nexus between the family and the Church in God’s plan for humanity.

THE BIBLE

          God has revealed Himself to mankind through His Word.  Millions of people have been impacted, challenged and continued to be blessed by the message contained in the Holy Bible.

          The  Bible contains the inspired Word of God suitable for teaching, for reproof, conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience and for training in righteousness in holy living, in conformity with God’s will in thought, purpose and action (2Tim3:16). This God given resource will therefore be the principal source of this discussion.

THE FAMILY  

          The family is derived from the Latin word familia and in human context is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity (by recognized birth) affinity (marriage) or co-residence/shared consumption (Nurtured kinship).  Members of the immediate family may include a spouse, parent, sibling, son, daughter. Members of the extended family may include grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, nephew and niece.

          The family is very important in God’s eyes.  He has a special concern and cares for the family institution which He created for various purposes amongst which are:-

          1.       For a Man and Woman to love each other unconditionally.  

2.       That members of the family may provide for the physical and emotional needs of each of its members.  

3.       To procreate and populate the world.

          In God’s view, the family is the place where people are schooled and moulded for life (Jim and Judy Kemp 2012).

THE CHURCH

          For the purpose of this talk the closest definition of the Church by Wikipedia is “a term by which the New Testament writers denote the Society founded by our Lord, Jesus Christ.”  The third century used the word for the Lord’s house and also to signify a Christian place of worship.

          The coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ as God with us (Emmanuel) was consistent with Bible prophecy in which the Messiah was to come and establish His Kingdom. Christ during His earthly ministry affirmed that the prophecies concerning the Messiah were fulfilled in Him but that the expected messianic Kingdom is His Church.  A characteristic feature of the Church in prophecy and in present day reality is its universal extent. The Gentiles are grafted to the promise of God through  Abraham and his descendants and are to yield allegiance to the Son of David (Eph 1: 11 – 18).  All kings are to serve and obey Him; His dominion is to extend to the ends of the earth (Ps 21: 28, 2: 7 – 12, 116:1, Zach 9:10).

          Simply said the Church is the Body of Christ in the present generation (Eph 1:23, Col 1:18).

THE FAMILY AND THE CHURCH

          With the above definition of the Church, it is obvious that as a body is made up of its parts, so the Church is made up of its constituent parts.  Membership of the Church is drawn from individuals who are raised in families situated in homes.  In 1Cor 12: 12 – 31, Paul in his letter to the Corinthian Church articulated the functional dependability of the various component parts of the Church.  The Church is made up of various interconnected and interdependent parts.  However, for these parts  to be useful purposes in the Church, they have to be raised and nurtured in a family setting.

          The nexus between the family and the Church can be practically seen in the lives of two Old Testament Families. The families of Amram the husband of Joechebed and Eli the Priest.

(A)     AMRAM AND JOECHEBED

          References Ex1,2:1-11, 6:20, Num 26:59, Heb 11:23. The family of Amram is introduced in Exodus 2:1 as a daughter of Levi who married a man of the house of Levi whose name was Amram.  She obviously married her nephew and was both the wife and aunt of Amram.  Ex 6:20 states that Amram married his father’s sister and lived 137 years.  A peep into the family of Amram however reveals the activities of his wife Joechebed which can be gleaned from the later life of their children.  Miriam, Moses and Aaron (Num 26:59).

The name Joechebed implies “glory of Jehovah” or “Jehovah is her glory”. This remarkable woman raised up three godly children who became tall oaks in the plan of God for mankind.

1.       There was Moses, who became one of the greatest national leaders and legislators the world has ever known.

2.       There was Aaron, who became Israel’s first high priest and the founder of the Aaronic Priesthood.

3.       There was Miriam, the gifted poetess and musician, who was intimately associated with her two brothers in the history of Israel.

How did Joechebed achieve this?

1.       She lived her name. she knew that her name confers on her a responsibility to ensure that God’s name is glorified in her life, actions and activities.

2.       She knew that God has a purpose and a plan for every child and that God does not make mistakes.

3.       Joechebed trusted and feared God. She kept her son for three months. Thus she and her husband were mentioned in Heb 11:23 among the heroes of faith.

4.       She believed that God is able to overrule circumstances.

5.       Her reverence for God was greater than her fear of man.

Lessons from the life of Jochebed and Amram is that a family that will raise children to build the church must:-

1.            Marry right (Ex 2:1)AM

- Do not be unequally yoked 2 Cor. 6:14

2.       Choose life (Ex. 2:2) Procreate

3.       Must have faith in God (Ex. 2:2, Heb. 11:23)

4.       Must protect the family (EX. 2:2) Moses was hidden for 3 months

5.       Must plan ahead for the family (Ex. 2:3).

6.       Must know the will of God concerning the family.

7.       Must study the word of God together (Ex 2:3).

8.       Must pray together (Ex 2:3).

9.       Must trust God and believe His promises (Ex 2: 2&3).

When we trust God and all that we know to do, God will visit and accomplish His purpose in our family to our amazement.

-     Joechebed saw her son live.

-     Her son received the best education available.

-     Joechebed influence remained strong throughout her life

-    The instrument of the fear of pharaoh that he will be overthrown was  raised in his own house. (Moses eventually led the Israelites out of Egypt after a humiliating encounter for Pharaoh that lead to his death).

 

 

 

(B)­     THE FAMILY OF ELI

 

Eli was the high priest of Shiloh, the second to the last Israelite judge succeeded only by Samuel in 1 Sam. 7:15 before the rule of the Kings. Eli was an Old Testament person who had some very modern problems. The recognition and respect he earned in public did not extend to his handling of his family affairs. He was an exhalted high priest, but he was a poor parent.

His sons brought him grief and ruin and truncated his lineage from priesthood.

How did Eli fail?

1.       He lacked two very important qualities needed for effective parental discipline – a firm resolve and corrective action.

2.       Eli was more concerned with the symbols of his religion than with the God he represented (1Sam4: 17-18).  For him, the Ark of the Covenant had become a relic to be protected rather than a reminder of the protector. His faith has shifted from the creator to the created.

                    It may be easier to worship things that we see e.g. buildings, people or even

the Bible without realizing that they have no power of their own. Is the Bible a respected religious relic or the sharp and effective Word of God?

i.        The Bible acknowledges Eli’s sons as “wicked men who had no regard for God” (1Sam. 2:12).

ii.       They treated the Lord’s offering with contempt. (1 Sam 2:17).Eli’s sons slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

iii.      Eli heard about these things in 1 Sam 2:23-25. He only offered a feeble rebuke which went unheeded.

iv.      Eli’s sons Hephni and Phinehas were legitimate priests by birth but lost their life and priesthood to death due to immorality and irreverence for God.

The lessons of Eli’s family are numerous:

1.       The family is the environment for ensuring godly succession (Mal 2: 15)

2.       Parents cannot be absolved of the consequences of the lives of children.

3.       God holds parents accountable for the lives and lifestyles of their children.

4.       Our inaction or complacency may truncate the place of our family in the plan of God.

CONCLUSION

 

In conclusion, the family is the building block of the church. A family that raises godly children will provide veritable instruments who will be tall oaks  in the plan of God for mankind, but a family that raises godless children will not only meet with destruction, but will have their progression truncated in the plan of God for humanity.

May God grant us the grace and the ability to raise godly families who are active with him in His work of salvation, Amen.