Has 'The Family' Become An Idol in the American Church?

[Crossfire]

I have been involved with churches in the past where 'the family' was clearly an idol, where every dime spent and every activity planned was for specifically meant for 'the families' within the church, without the slightest concern for the lost, poor, sick or needy families in the surrounding community. Self serving congregations like these thrive on luring more families into their churches thus more time and more money is being spent on bigger venues / buildings and more extravagant events which serve to lure more families into their one time church which has now evolved into a social club / activity center thus drawing more attention unto themselves and away from those in dire need.

I do hope that you all can see and sense my concern. By no means would I ever want to minimize the importance of family. However, I do feel that our children would appreciate and respect both their parents and the church more if the church planned activities where the entire family could serve with one another, helping others less fortunate than ourselves thus teaching our children not only the importance of serving others but also obtaining for themselves that sense of purpose and fulfillment that comes with seeing lives transformed by and for God's glory.

 

[Liz01]

I have seen the same problem happening in other churches and it worries me too. It maybe becoming an "idol" as you say.

In a church i used to go years ago this was "normal", that church was made only for families and despite i was for a short time in there, i was told by the ppl there that they had almost the same number of members since the creation of that church, and it was so incredible that they couldnt see that the church didnt grow because it was opened only for families and not for all the ppl, and it was sad, because the ppl there supported each other and had activities for their families but i guess that they forgot one of the main things that God wants from us that is mercy, so they forgot the ppl without a family or not so lucky or not with much economic resources because they were focused in the families inside their church.

So, i think that a church must be opened for all the son and daughters of God even if they dont have a family to go with them and put effort to reach the ppl who really need to know God, maybe taking off a little bit that sense of comfort that a "christian club" can "offer" and focus in the real command of love and mercy to others that God wants from us.

This remember me a lot what Matthew 12:46-50 says: "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.”

 

[shemaiah]

As I was reading your post, a thought came to me: if for one day God said all churches must cancel their fellowship dates and meet at 6pm on a Saturday, just how many would hear? and how many would actually do it?
We have become a cycle of tradition, beliefs and pride and have neglected to seek God and give Him room to work even in our churches. We have forgotten about the poor and needy. But the change starts when each one of us decides to be lead by the Spirit, to forget our pride and do what He wants us to do and to be closer to Him and let Him change us and mould us as His perfect children. God bless

 

[Trax]

I have been involved with churches in the past where 'the family' was clearly an idol, where every dime spent and every activity planned was for specifically meant for 'the families' within the church, without the slightest concern for the lost, poor, sick or needy families in the surrounding community. Self serving congregations like these thrive on luring more families into their churches thus more time and more money is being spent on bigger venues / buildings and more extravagant events which serve to lure more families into their one time church which has now evolved into a social club / activity center thus drawing more attention unto themselves and away from those in dire need.

I do hope that you all can see and sense my concern. By no means would I ever want to minimize the importance of family. However, I do feel that our children would appreciate and respect both their parents and the church more if the church planned activities where the entire family could serve with one another, helping others less fortunate than ourselves thus teaching our children not only the importance of serving others but also obtaining for themselves that sense of purpose and fulfillment that comes with seeing lives transformed by and for God's glory.

The traditional family is under severe satanic attack right now.