We are family; we can get over it!

I had never heard the phrase applied to the church, but I immediately liked it!

Opting out of a family is not an option. I did not choose my family, but I am in it for the long haul. I cannot get out of it. My family is imperfect.  We have our warts; we have our black sheep.  I can make my family as good a family as possible or I can make it a disaster. I can harbor grudges or I can constructively work to heal relationships.

Families are imperfect because the people in those families are imperfect. Problems are inevitable. Difficulties come; conflicts arise.  The church family is not immune. The determining factor is in how we respond. Are we family or not? If we are family, the best option is not hard to see. We are family and we can get over it!

2 replies on “We are family; we can get over it!”

  1. Dr. Young, you have given some important words to live by. I just decided to find you online today after listening to your lectures on ministry at OVU in 2008. I couldn’t attend the lectures, but Mike (from the recording company) gave me a CD last year. I’ve finally listened to your lectures. Powerful, thought-provoking stuff!!!!

    I had a friend (a young preacher–younger than me) call me to have a heart to heart the other day. He’s preparing to transition to a church he has some history with (his grandfather was beloved elder there). One of the questions he asked me was, “How should I go in there?” (preaching). He’s a Harding grad. I don’t know what they’re teaching them down there–just kidding. I said, “My preaching professor used to tell us, ‘Preach the dream!'” Those words have shaped my goals in preaching for the last 10 1/2 years. I haven’t always done it well, but those words keep coming back to me whenever I need to hear them again. Thanks.

Comments are closed.