If you’ve followed my previous blog, Church Planting Novice, then you’ll know that I “planted” a church a couple of years ago by the name of Austin City Life. One of the things we’re continually coming back to is a church as a community.

But What Kind Community?

In a culture so driven by convenience, church has become optional not essential. It can be difficult to extract ourselves from this way of viewing church, as it were some kind of product that access only when we want it. The biblical description of church, however, is altogether different. Over and over biblical metaphors and instructions revolve around community and family. Paul’s letters open and close by addressing not friends, partners, or disciples but “brothers and sisters.” The household of faith calls us to communities of grace, not communities of convenience.

How We Treat Our Family

The family metaphor is the strongest in Scripture. Church is essential to our identity, not optional like an elective because God is a divine family not a spiritual option. Church is a family. You don’t ignore your family. You don’t refuse to feed your kids. You don’t reject responsibility to provide food, shelter, and clothing. You don’t make light of your family’s suffering or joy, you join them in it. Similarly, the church is to live together as a family, not as though we are an elective to interact with only when it is convenient. How are you treating your family?

• Do you see them just once a week?
• Are you helping them with their needs?
• Do know what to celebrate with them (and are you celebrating it)?
• Are you there for those who are suffering?
• Are you making sure none of the children in your family are being neglected (children’s ministry)?