so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:25-26

I was recently in a meeting where I made the comment… small churches major in providing a sense of family. The response was… some churches don’t do family well. It shut me down, but it got me thinking. Is that a true statement? Is it true that some churches don’t do family well? After much pondering, I would have to say that I disagree. Churches do family well. People not so much.

As the pastor of a small church, I meet people who don’t do family well. They tend to complain. They are cliquish. They want the church that fits their ideal. The church for them is all about what the church can do for me and when the church doesn’t do for them they will let people outside the church know about it. They don’t work within the church to bring healthy change or transformation. They are in every church. They can hide in big churches, but in small churches they are exposed. Eventually they leave and take those who listened to their complaints with them because there is just enough truth in their complaints to seem plausible. The difference between them and family is family sticks around and does something about it.

Where the revelation of grace is present, complaining doesn’t exist. There are no problems, only solutions. We don’t sit around and blame why something isn’t working, we pray and work together to apprehend the future God has given us. We don’t look somewhere else for better programs or better people. We embrace the people God has placed in our lives through our church because they are God’s family with us. Love isn’t selective. Love is generous to all.

If you’re not in a church family. You need to be. If you are in one and you’re thinking about leaving, make sure you’re leaving because the Holy Spirit has you on mission. Don’t leave because of a complaint. The next church you go to doesn’t need your complaining spirit. If you’re in a church and you see lots of problems that need fixing, consider that the Holy Spirit may be opening your eyes because you’re the solution. Don’t be a weight, be a wing. Roll up your sleeves and get to work. It could be the reason why you believe your church doesn’t do family well is because you’re holding back. Remember, the church isn’t a building, it’s not the pastor’s thing, it’s not an organization. You are the church and if you have a complaint, take it personally, talk to the pastor and leaders and do something to fix it.

Roxie and I love you!!!
P.HD

#gracefortoday #sanclementechurch #calvarysanclemente