Part of the Family

I have three brothers. We are each very different, and don't always agree, but we are joined by the strong ties of family. We got along okay, growing up--most of the time. But sometimes we didn't. For what reasons I can't recall--mostly just natural friction between strong willed individuals (and that's what kids are!)

I remember one time smashing a Devil Dog (remember those?) right in my next older brother's face! Again--I can't remember why I was mad at him--I'm sure it was important at the time. He chased me right out of the house and down the block! Another time, my little brother got so ticked off at me he threw a dart at me and it stuck right in my head! You might say I got the point that he was mad! And I tell you, it was no fun watching an argument between my brothers, even when I wasn't involved. Things were said that hurt near as much as a snack cake in the face. I usually avoided arguments.

Sometimes it seemed as if we'd be mad at one another forever. But then a day or so later, we were right back to walking to school together, goofing around, and being brothers. Of course we were still brothers when we were mad at one another, too. And there were times when we grew closer through such conflicts--learning things about each other. Like your older brother doesn't want you hanging round him when he's trying to talk to his girlfriend!

A church is like a family in some ways. We are, after all, brothers and sisters in Christ. Most of the time we get along as we worship God and work his will in the community. But sometimes we disagree on things and get passionate about issues that are important to us. Not in itself a bad thing. But someone may then smash a criticism into a discussion, or toss pointed barbs at an issue. And a brother gets hurt, or a sister cries, or the rest of the family can't bear to even watch.

Now a regular family has bonds of blood between them--powerful stuff. And most brothers and sisters are able to forgive one another and walk on through life together. (Though some, regrettably, can't.) A church family has a bond of blood too--Jesus' blood poured out for them, freeing them from sin and forging them into a new kind of family where the bonds are a million times stronger than familial ones. Very powerful stuff! So, if human families can disagree and argue with one another, and then forgive wrongs done and love one another still, then surely the family of God can be gracious and loving and walk on down the path God sends them on together!

Psychologists tell us that conflict is normal, and even desirable in a relationship--handled well. It seems then that the lesson of this tale of two families is to stick together, talk things out, forgive one another, keep on being brothers and sisters in Christ, and learn something about each other in the process, putting it to good use.

Let us pray: Father, we squabble and disagree as we live together as your church. Help us even as we do, to do so seeing Christ in each other. In Jesus' name, amen.