by Kent Smith
For the longest time, the normal setting of Christian life has been called a church. By this we usually mean a group of people of whatever size that meets in a particular building from time to time to engage in religious services.
If we ask someone from this group where they go to church, they respond with something like, “I go to St. Johns on the corner of 5th and Vine.” If we ask them why they go to this church, they might say something like, “I chose this church because I like the preaching, programming and coffee way better than my old church.”
I wonder if we can imagine what it would be like to be part of a different normal setting of Christian life? What if the normal setting of Christian life was a small, intergenerational spiritual family that shares a simple covenant like this: “Jesus is Lord, so we will follow Jesus as we discern the leading of his Spirit together.” This community works, plays, eats, prays and generally lives life together.
If we ask someone from this group where they go to church, their first response will likely be a puzzled look. If we ask them why they are part of this group they are likely to say, “Because Jesus called and welcomed me into this spiritual family.”
To be clear, a big assembly can support putting God in the center of our attention in ways that can be, and often are, a marvelous thing. This meets some deep needs for many.
However marvelous, though, a big assembly cannot replace, or even compare with the extended family as the normal setting of Christian life and culture. The Kingdom of God comes, thrives and grows in the day in, day out lifestyle of love in a healthy spiritual family. Here is where deep attachment is formed and nurtured. Here is where God’s coming Kingdom breaks into the neighborhood.
This was true for the Jewish people. This was true in the life and ministry of Jesus, as it was in the earliest church for centuries as it permeated the ancient world. This has been true in the periods of great awakening, revival and expansion in Christian history. It remains true today.
The extended family of Jesus, the interdependent, intergenerational community of God’s love, God’s local household, is the normal setting of Christian life and culture. Can we imagine it?
What would it take for this to be our lived experience in our time? Would we be willing to do what it takes to see God’s Kingdom come, to see God’s will done on the earth where we live as it is in heaven?
“In Christ the fullness of God’s life is presently living in flesh and blood—and you (the little household of Jesus in Colossae) have the fullness of that life.”
“Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. And after you have read this letter, have it read to the church in Laodicea.”
Kent Smith has taught graduate students at Abilene Christian University since 1991 and co-founded the Eden Community and LK10.com