Over my last two articles we’ve explored what kind of church you should desire to be a part of. The first argued from Ephesians 3 that the church doesn’t exist for you. Therefore don’t look for a church that caters to your needs, but one that prioritises God’s glory (Ephesians 3:10). Then in the second article I developed three traits of a church that glorifies God. They were selflessness, unity and service. Now in this, the third and final article, I’m going to suggest you look for a church that resembles family. For another way that the church displays the manifold wisdom of God is through its relationships.
As we’re brought back to God, his grace also unites us to others.
In quite uncompromising terms, the apostle John said that one can’t have a right relationship with God and then hate their neighbour, who is created in the image of God (1 John 4:20-21).
Back in Ephesians, the gospel brings us into fellowship with each other (Ephesians 2:14-15). As we’re brought back to God, his grace also unites us to others (Ephesians 2:16). So just as God’s wisdom is displayed in the ordered relationships of home and work (Ephesians 5:21-6:9), the same is true of his church. Thus he exhorts believers to maintain unity, which is to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel (Ephesians 4:1-3).
The Church as Family
Why should we strive to maintain unity? Well, Paul says that believers already belong to one family (Ephesians 4:4-6). The family unit should never allow for segregation along ethnic or social lines (Galatians 3:25-29). It’s a diverse family, for sure. But that’s part of the beauty. However, it’s only beautiful when the church lives and loves like a family. However, we have an even greater bond than human families. So the church should be marked by mutual acceptance and intentional oneness in Christ Jesus.
The church a diverse family. But that’s part of the beauty.
Every believer understands that they’ve experienced undeserved grace. Christ’s atoning work wasn’t for the worthy but the sinful. Thus the church is made up of people who don’t deserve their place in the family. None of us do. So when the world witnesses our love and mutual respect for other family members, despite all the issues that should divide us, it will conclude that this oneness and familial love could only be the work of God (John 17:20-21).
The Church That Glorifies God
Throughout these three articles I’ve pointed readers to Paul’s mind. That is, God’s purpose for his church is to display his manifold wisdom to his enemies (Ephesians 3:11).
Thus the church ought to shut the mouths of its critics. Not through force or finery, but by being the family that God saved us to be. This is how we witness to God’s work of grace. This is how we display his merciful redemption. We can’t witness to the transforming power of God’s grace if our relationships are left unchanged. When God enables us for his eternal purposes he empowers us to co-labour with other believers, with the church family.
We can’t witness to God’s grace if our relationships are left unchanged.
What kind of church do you want to be a part of? Is your priority a church that actively displays the wisdom of God to the watching world? The church should be distinct, different from the world. Only then will it demonstrate God’s grace. But if it’s plagued by the divisions and selfishness, disunity and self-service of our world it won’t herald God’s glory or the gospel. The church should be a place of acceptance and respect, more like a family and less like an organisation. A church like this might not focus on you and your needs, but that’s alright if it focuses on God and his fame.
To that end, let’s pray with Paul. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
