As far as my understanding can carry me, the entire concept of “Church,” should resemble “Family” more than it resembles any other institution, society or association.

The Church has been described in numerous ways, with each description carrying its own sense of understanding. Some have used the Greek “ekklesia” (the called out and assembled ones) to describe the concept of “church.” Many think of the church as a building at some certain location.  Still others think of a denomination or a congregation or mystically as “the Body of Christ,” or as a one of the Baskin and Robbins 64 flavors of church expression – Protestant or Roman Catholic or Greek Orthodox or Armenian or Byzantine or Russian Orthodox or any number of other variations on the theme. Sadly, because of the failure of men to rightly understand the church, many followers of Jesus conjure feelings and memories of deep hurt, extreme sorrow and spiritual enslavement when they think of "church."

When I was a seminary student we were introduced to a discipline of theology known as Ecclesiology, a study of the doctrines of the Church as a community or organic entity, and with the understanding of what the "church" is — ie. its role in salvation, its origin, its relationship to the historical Christ, its discipline, its destiny and its leadership. Ecclesiology is the study of the Church as a thing in itself, and of the Church's self-understanding of its mission and role.

One would assume that after a thorough introduction and study of Ecclesiology we students would have gained a deep and intimate understanding of what “the church” is or at least ought to be.

Unfortunately, there is a powerful principle at play affecting any study we might undertake: We are prone to remain bound by the conventional, historical understandings that have  existed within whatever realm of study we undertake. So, if we were reared in a Roman Catholic home, with parents who were committed and active Catholics, and if we were educated within the systems of the Catholic church, our foundational understanding of “church” will be based on the Roman Catholic view of “church” and will be very different from our neighbor-protestants and their understanding of “church.” 

I believe that "Family" is what the Church is all about – All our wonderful songs (I'm so Glad I'm a Part of the Family of God; We will Break Dividing Walls et al) and all our slogans mean nothing to God - or to people - unless we truly recognize and allow to exist the “family” aspect of church, beginning with a right understanding of and relationship with our heavenly Father.

We must begin by allowing Him to be "Abba" - Daddy - Father.

Unless we actually become sons and daughters - in the truest sense and in the complete definition of what it means to be true sons and daughters,

blood-related,

heart-connected,

      being nurtured in the womb of “family” and reveling in the warmth of Father’s presence, we will never truly understand or experience “church” in the full sense heaven intends.

I wrote to friends in England this morning. I reminded these precious family members of a night when we met in one of the family homes. Our discussion centered on the theme of defining "the church." The focus finally shifted to the word, "Family." The church must and will naturally (supernaturally) become "Family" as we submit, as we "Let Him." It's a natural process that has become artificial in the greater scope of the church experience. The "church" has become an institution, an organization, a program, a corporation more than a corporate body; more business than Body; more conglomerate than "koinonia." The "they had all things in common" has given way to the establishment of the "have" churches versus the "have not" churches.

We need FAMILY in the House of God.

   We need to LIVE in the Living Room of His Presence.

             We need to SUP at the Supper Table of His Grace - "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" echoes from the halls of heaven to hearts willing to hear.

                           We need to REST in the Greatroom of His companionship.

We need to see our heavenly Father abiding in His Great "Easy Chair" and climb up into His enfolding arms, rest on His Strong Shoulders, hear and feel and sense the intake and the outflow of the Ruach - the very Breath of God. Oh, I hear Him calling us UP, UP, UP, UP into his bosom and into His arm of Salvation.

And it's Truly, Family. Father, Son, Daughter, Father, Groom, Bride, knit together, introduced and fueled by the HOLY, Holy Spirit.

Peace and Love in His Grace,

Greg