The Family of God

Last night I sat in the home of a couple in conflict with their church for several years. In this case, being in the family has proven difficult for both sides.

In The Peacemaking Pastor, Alfred observes that peacemaking is a challenge because the church experiences the same disunity and dysfunctions as our families. He also notes the following:

"Biblical peacemaking will only become firmly rooted in the church when we recover the meaning and practice of the church as the family of God" (Alfred Poirier, The Peacemaking Pastor, 91).

As I drove home last night and reflected upon this mediation effort still in its early stages, I could not help but think of what the metaphor of church as family brings to peacemaking efforts.

When I experience conflict with another member of my family, we have no other choice than to work it out. There is no running from the problem.

Alfred also explores the various family metaphors related to the church and what happens when we view church in this manner. When we see the church as a family, the people are no longer merely members, but brothers and sisters in the truest sense of the word. Therefore, we treat them differently.

As a result, Alfred notes: "we can begin to seek genuine peace when we learn to regard our people as our brothers and sisters in the Lord." (Pg. 105)

I pray that God will give birth to a deeper sense of community among and within our churches where a true sense of family is developed and peacemaking becomes a way of life.

What a powerful apologetic!

~ Jim