12 August | Youth
«For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.» Ephesians 3:14-15
Anyone who goes to church and does not like what they see there, instead of abandoning it, should be an instrument of the transformation they want to see implemented. Although the church is far from perfect, think about how much it could improve if everyone did their part. God does not call us to go to church; but to be His church, the hope of the world.
When persecuted by the Roman Empire, first-century Christians used the symbol of a fish (known as ichtus) to identify themselves or mark the place of secret meetings. When a Christian fugitive met a complete stranger and identified that he also followed Christ, there was an instant bond: “We belong to the same family.”
What makes us a family? We have the same Father; we are brothers and sisters to each other. We go through the same process of new birth and, as a result, we have the same spiritual blood running through our veins. Being part of the family of faith means having a relationship that transcends the family relationships we have on Earth.
This only happens when community life develops. Church is not what happens in the temple every Saturday. It is what happens in each member's life because of the relationships formed in the pews and then cultivated from Sunday to Friday. Therefore, the church must be a family. Each one has certain roles to play. Without one of its members, the church is incomplete. God calls us to be part of His church; more than that, He calls us to be His church. Communion between brothers cannot be neglected.
The church is not perfect. You cannot expect everything that happens there to always be wonderful. However, it is the duty of each of its members to work to make it better, making the environment more friendly, trustworthy and happy. Be part of this movement and make your church a living community, with people caring for people.