While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
So you’re a Lutheran? Nice. Baptist? Wonderful. Methodist? Peace to you. Catholic? Blessings. Christian and Missionary Alliance? Excellent!
An elder? Perfect! Deacon? Good job! Pastor? Even better.
Promise Keeper? I like that.
Then again, it may not make a difference….
We’re accustomed to the notion of fame by affiliation…importance by position… adoption by denomination. It’s natural in our world. Unfortunately, not so much in God’s world. The family of God is not reserved for affiliation, position or denomination.
Unless we have acknowledged our eternal lostness, and intentionally trusted the work of Christ (alone) to redeem us, our affiliation or position…or denomination will avail nothing. Once we do, however, we become “family”
And being family is what counts. Once we’re there, our brother (or sister) might be any denomination…it doesn’t matter (of course, we all know there are those branches of the family tree we don’t like to talk about!).
Don’t be confused by this church culture thing. More important, don’t presume that just because you have become “family” your natural children still don’t struggle with the notion.
Live boldly out there today…
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