Above is a pic of my youngest daughter and me.
My Husband, My brother in Christ
V. A Biblical Vision of Manhood and Womanhood in the Church, Part 2
This is my fifth of a series of weekend postings from Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth by Wayne Grudem. (Click the archives on the left sidebar to find the other related postings that are in Roman numerical order.)
Also, I will list page numbers in parentheses from the book that these excerpts can be found on.
Chapter Two: A Biblical Vision of Manhood and Womanhood in the Church in "The relationship between the family and the church" (80)
Again, I urge you to buy this MUST-HAVE book. What I write here is done in hopes that you will eagerly add this book to your library and buy it for anyone struggling in this essential area.
(drop me an e-mail if you need help getting one)
2.3: The relationship between the family and the church:
In this section, Mr Grudem discusses the relationship between male leadership in the home and male leadership in the church. He writes that this is "in part because the church is viewed as a "family" and patterns of church life are imitated in the family." Which is why Paul includes (I Tim. 3:4-5) that a man candidating for office of Elder or overseer must "manage his household well..." Paul likens the people in his church to "family"... calling them "sisters" and "brothers." (I Tim. 5:1-2)
Abandoning these Scriptural requirements for the Church, will permeate into the home causing erosion of male headship in the home as well. (ouch)
***I love the picture painted here regarding the relationship between church and family. It is a serious picture. One not to be taken lightly. For when you join a church family, you are essentially marrying that church family, putting yourself under the headship of that church. And I liken church hopping and occasional church participation to that worldly mindset so prevalent in marriages today. "If we are not compatible or she bores me... i'll just divorce her."... "If he does not fill all MY needs, we can always get a divorce... no big deal. The kids will get over it." ...
No.
Joining a church family should be looked upon as an opportunity to seek to serve, not to be served... just as a godly marriage. And if the church you have joined begins to play the harlot with the world, commit adultery in compromise of the truth, there are careful steps you must take to assure that you are being in obedience to God in all areas of discernment and proper communication, BEFORE you "divorce" that church. Church hopping is like bed hopping. And yes, I KNOW how rare it is to find a sound church. But just like you will never find a perfect mate on this earth, do you really think you will find a perfect church? This is a tough issue, and I am inadequate in communicating the weight of its seriousness. But I say all this to lead us back to the leadership of man in the home and in the church... this is where, when a church compromises in this area, the erosion permeates to the core because it is by this seemingly subtle mixture of compromise of truth with truth, "not discerned and distinguished, that the devil has had his greatest advantage against the cause and kingdom of Christ." (that is a quote by Jonathan Edwards that actually deals with counterfeit religion mixed with truth and the great need for discernment.)
Carla Rolfe posted something about pastors and churches that I think is an excellent read called Take me to Your Leaders.
Comments
Yeah...good thoughts. Marrying the church you go to? Not a typical way of articulating the relationship between church and congregant (and not terribly palatable to our culture). Church hopping is probably one of the least addressed problems that Evangelical Christendom faces too.
I know (and know of) many people who have horrid doctrine and questionable (if not anti-Christian) ideas and run from church to church, spreading cancer in the body. It's horrible how people can peddle their own insanities until someone takes them to task, and then just go next door when things turn sour.
What's even worse is that most churches don't practice discipline either. We (as pastors) seem to forget that God has given the church the charge and duty to discipline those who 'buck against the Lord'....
...Anyway, I agree. Don't sleep around on Jesus; he's a jealous husband.
Oh, and there isn't a perfect church. Agreed...but there's churches that are seeking to GROW in knowledge and obedience to the Lord, and churches that are 'doing their thing for Jesus' (i.e. doing what everyone else is doing, saying a prayer, and pretending like their foolishness is now somehow sanctified).
But, once I'm done my ThM in California, I'm going to make the perfect church...and I'm already taking resumes! Any volunteers?
Posted by: The Armchair Theologian | May 25, 2006 08:25 PM
Hey Armchair,
You have some excellent thoughts. I like what you said, that even though there is not a perfect church, there are "churches that are seeking to GROW in knowledge and obedience to the Lord."
Very true and I am thankful to be a part of a church family that has this God-honoring mindset.
Church discipline truly is essential!!!
Posted by: 4ever4given | May 25, 2006 09:50 PM