Part of the Family

"Put away the dishes, please."

"Aww, but Mom, why can't my sister do it? I did the dishes yesterday!"

If you're a parent and have children old enough to talk, you've likely heard this complaint. And it's downright irritating. Why can't your children see that the whole house will run smoother if everyone just works together? There's plenty of work to go around, and a little help goes a long way.

Even as an adult, when I visit my parents, I can expect to pick up a dishrag or grab some chairs from the basement. It's not a hotel--I'm family. And part of being in a family means pitching in to help out. And the same goes with being part of a church family. God put us here and has blessed us with each other. He has called us by name and claimed us as His own in Holy Baptism. He has given us the gift of faith so we can live forever with Him. And the invitation extends to those around us, but they can't go if they don't know they're invited. So we work together as a family to pass out that invitation to as many people as possible, meanwhile working to keep our church family, both Shepherd of the Ridge and the greater Christian church, taken care of. Are you still a member of the family if you don't? Of course you are! But if you're a part of the family but don't feel like you fit in, pick up a dishrag, a rake, or a computer mouse, or pitch in for the pizza, and you'll experience that sense of belonging that is already a reality.

This is not just a command from Christ, but a privilege. He has sacrificed Himself for us and calls us to love our neighbors as He has loved us. As a family, we stand together and fight together, and yes, if necessary, we go down together. When we don't see a family member for a while, we hurt, and a piece of us is missing until we see them again, and it's sometimes difficult to contain our excitement at seeing them again. And when a new member is adopted, married, or born into the family, we all get excited, because that's someone else to join in on the big pile of love.

At the same time, being in a family isn't always fun. Families argue and disagree, because families are made of individuals, but they often argue over what's best for the family or how to attain the best, all with a common goal of attaining the best for the family. And while we may drive each other crazy and pick on each other, we can get away with it, because we're a family, and it's understood that we love each other. In fact, if anyone else from outside the family decides to be mean to a member of our family, watch out. We look out for our own.

Because when it comes down to it, we're a family, and the blood that binds us together (the blood of Christ) is deeper than any petty differences or frustrations we may experience, and we're better off together than apart.

 This article was inspired by 1 Corinthians 12:11-31 and a pair of great messages, a devotion from Ken Klaus and part of a sermon from Mark Driscoll.