Brothers & Sisters

♫ Welcome to the Family Madrigal...home of the Family Madrigal! ♫

Anyone with a subscription to Disney+ probably has the entire Encanto soundtrack playing on repeat in their head right now. If you're not familiar, Disney released a new animated film late last year about a Colombian family with special gifts. I've seen the movie twice so far and probably listened to the songs at least a dozen times - and I'm not afraid to admit that it's not just because I have a young kid either. I found the movie to be a really good story about family, especially with how close the Madrigals are with one another. From their abuela (grandmother) all the way down to the littlest grandchild, they all live in the same casa (house). Furthermore, using the individuals gifts they have been given, they work together as one mind to bless their village. This familial closeness reminds me of how close Jesus Christ wants His followers to be with one another.

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.” (Matthew 12:49-50)

Jesus considered His disciples to be more like family than the biological family He grew up with. And Jesus wants His followers to think the same way about fellow believers. So when Christians use the term brother or sister to refer to one another, it is because from God's perspective, His church is one family. Therefore, as followers of Jesus we should be treating one another like members of our own household. And I don't think that just means forming Bible Study or Life Groups and meeting once a week at each other's houses. Don't get me wrong, I think those are great ways to form solid, Christian friendships and support each other (after all, the Bible teaches that iron sharpens iron and that we should bear one another's burdens). But I think God is also calling us to develop deeper relationships with our heavenly brothers and sisters that transcend gatherings on Sundays and group meetings.

Photo Credit: Disney / Catholicnews.com

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. (2 Corinthians 13:11-12)

The Apostle Paul had written the above scripture to the Corinthian church. He's rallying believers together and even calls out what our secret handshake should be - "a holy kiss." I know for some people they might think "kissing" as a greeting is reserved for old school Italian families, but Paul is encouraging it for Christians. Let's think back to what was going on when Paul wrote this. At the time this letter was written, Christians were being persecuted severely. Christianity was growing like a wildfire but the majority of the world, which we know is under the influence of Satan, was pushing back heavy. For Christians, it would be like wartime. Imagine you were in a foreign country fighting a war and you got separated from your battalion. After weeks of being surrounded by enemies and barely surviving on rain puddles for drink, you see an ally refuge. I don't know about you but I would feel overwhelmed with joy and relief after finally finding sanctuary with others fighting for the same cause. It would be like finding family and well, after days surrounded by our enemies, I might just be compelled enough to give my family members a big ol' neck kiss.

Sadly, I don't see this type of family bonding happening in North America and I would think not in Europe either. I see it when I read about believers in China, India, the Middle East, and North African nations where persecution against Christians is at a red alert. It's a hard thing to think about because the truth is, persecution brings the Body of Christ closer together. And persecution tends to be the end result of Christians actually fulfilling their purpose, which is to preach the gospel everywhere. But here in the West, there seems to be an unofficial truce between the Church and Satan and it goes like this - We, the church, will preach the gospel, but we will only do it at our gatherings and church-sponsored events. We will avoid the workplace, schools, the marketplaces, and even the streets. The name of Jesus is taboo in those places and preaching is off limits.

Scary, right? I think it's a scary thing to think that the comfort we experience and the lack of persecution could be something the enemy has established to hinder the gospel. The devil is a subtle operator, deceiving the masses through methods that on the outside sometimes seem like blessings. I've always thought of it as a blessing that the Church, here in the West, isn't being persecuted. However, that means we will rarely feel like we're at war and more often than not, we will end up treating the gospel as a "value add" to someone's life. In reality, the gospel is the only path to life and if we don't share it with others, we are not doing God's will.

We need to change. The Western Church must change. Stepping outside our comfort zones will inevitably lead to push back from the world. If we're actually doing what God is asking us to do, we should at some point in our lives encounter persecution. We cannot shy away from it. But God has given us a gift to help and that is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is what brings the Body of Christ together as a family. And just like the movie Encanto's main theme, which is about bringing family together, we must bring our Church family together. As we see in the movie, a tight family bond is strong and can endure all things when its members are united as one mind and pursuing the same goal. For our family, brothers and sisters, we must see each other as soldiers on the same battlefield, doing what is right to bring glory to Jesus Christ and to save as many lives as we can before the great and terrible coming of the LORD.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6)