Can you imagine giving birth to a baby, and then saying to the child, have a good life, and I hope you are able to figure out how to grow and mature. That would be irresponsible at best, and criminal at worst. Yet, many times we approach someone’s rebirth into the kingdom of God, in just this manner. We say to the new believer, welcome to the family of God, hope you are able to navigate all the issues in growing and maturing. Looking to Christ as Lord means being united to Christ’s people. The church is more than a business that is being run with the gospel as its product. The church is to become a family to us, which will enable us to grow and mature. Every family member has responsibilities to fulfill within that family, and it is essential that they carry out those duties. Same is true in the church. The local church is the organism in which we are to carry out those responsibilities, and minister to the needs of each other. Therefore, the local church becomes to the believer, what parents are to become to a child. That church provides hope and help to it’s family, and provides a forum where that believer can grow and mature through the love and encouragement of the body. What a privilege it is to be a part of a redeemed community designed to love God and love one another. May you be a part of that foundation in your local assembly.
