Focus on THE Family…

Dr. James Dobson’s “Focus on the Family,” is right to want to bring focus to the family. The question I raise in this little blurb is, “Which Family?” Are we focusing on the Richey family or the Family of God—the Church. The Church family is getting the short end of the stick it seems when it comes to focus. As Christians, we should think of our families as an extension of the Church. We don’t think like this though. We put our focus on our individual families in that we must have “family time.” In lieu of weekly church worship and communion we have “family time at the game” or “family time at the lake.” So many factors contribute to this. We have a low view of church and a low view of why we even need to go to church. We are very individualistic. Everything from worship and church revolves around our very own needs and wants. Our individual family focus is fueled by the desire to repair broken and dysfunctional family units. That hyper-correction will only hurt it the long term. Either way, the Christian family will only thrive long term in the weekly life of the Church. That is where they will learn and fellowship with other imperfect people. That is where our families will be encouraged and grown through shared trials and joys. Alone we become wierd people, but in community we are made aware of what it means to live as image bearers of God—in fellowship and peace.

So many things can be said, but family must be viewed in light of the true family—the Church of the Lord Jesus. I want my kids to see our family unit flowing out of the church family. It is the Church that should get our focus when trying to make corrective measures to improve our families. We’ll be better off focusing on THE Church family and give our families time and energy in as much as they are subjected to the church. Not neglecting our individual families but rather learning how to live in them day in and day out because of the greater nurture and admonition of the Church family.