The Church is Our Family

When I visit the parish where I grew up, we greet each other with kisses and stories about the past. We introduce each other to new faces. We begin new relationships that last over time. What binds us together is the past we spend together, knowing there will also be a future together. Each trip reinforces our Christian bond held together with years of tears and laughter.

Brethren, I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreai, that you may receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well. Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I but also all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks; greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epainetos, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ. Greet Mary, who has worked hard among you. Greet Andronicos and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners; they are men of note among the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatos, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulos. Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissos. Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaina and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, eminent in the Lord, also his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritos, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren who are with them. Greet Philologos, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Romans 16.1-16

We forget the early Church lived as a family. Saint Paul wasn’t just writing letters to total strangers. He knew the people who would be reading and listening to them. He also knew there would be others who he hadn’t met yet listening also.

We forget the Scriptures tells us the names of Church leaders, not just random members of the Church. For example, Saint Paul greets Stachys, who was the first bishop of Byzantium. Byzantium would later become Constantinople.

A few years ago, I led a Bible Study on Romans. Session 32 focused on this list which I always believe is beneficial. I sometimes wonder what a letter from Saint Paul might sound like today. “Greet Elpidophoros our brother in the Lord. Greet Athanasios your teacher.” These are names we would recognize.

The Church, then and now, is our family. The Church is not just some place we attend on Sunday to ‘get our communion’ and return home. The Church is not just some organization with belong to. The Church is not a place. The Church is you and I together, working on our salvation.

Like for Saint Paul, the Church is our relationships with each other as we share experiences. We learn about God and share our knowledge and faith with new members of our families. We introduce each other to Christ. We cry and laugh together.

We also know from Saint Paul’s letters that the early Church didn’t always ‘get along’ with each other. That much we share as well. Every family has its ‘ups and downs’ but that doesn’t take away the bond they share. The Church today is the same.

Shortly before His Passion on the Cross, Christ prayed for and urged our unity. The Church has been struggling to maintain that unity ever since. There have been good days and bad days in our family, but we can never give up working toward unity.

That might be the one thing different about the Church of today from the Church of yesterday. We no longer seem committed to unity. The early Church fought to remain united. We tend to remain divided fighting for ‘our’ truth.

That is where we can make a difference. Work for reconciliation rather than separation. Rather than speaking negatively about another Church, work to unite in Christ. For clarification I’m not suggesting that Orthodox and non-Orthodox should immediately forget our differences and share Holy Communion.

When a family is separated there is pain and distress. We live in a world that creates enough stress in our lives. Our Church family should be a source of peace not stress. When we focus on the unity of our family, then we have a place of peace in a world of stress.