Do You Know Your Family Members?

“A Place Where Everyone Knows Your Name” is the theme song of a television program which takes place in a corner bar. When I heard it, I thought of my church. A bar is supposed to be a place of relaxation “where everyone knows your name!” In your Church, do your youngsters know who your Senior Adults are? Do your Seniors know young children, along with the Junior and Senior High youth? I am not certain, but this matter does concern me.

There was a time when all young people knew, respected and loved the older people of the church. (Even though the married women all had the same first name, “Mrs.”, the unmarried were all “Miss,” and all the men possessed the first name of “Mr.”) “Generation gaps” are showing up. Not just in difference in music, programming, and types and styles of worship services, but in many contemporary ways.

Let me share with you the following excerpt from the book Cure for the Common Life by the well known author and pastor, Rev. Max Lucado. “If similar experiences create friendships, shouldn’t the church overflow with friendships? With whom do you have more in common than fellow believers? Amazed by the same manger, stirred by the same Bible, saved by the same cross, and destined for the same home? Can you not echo the words of the psalmist? “I am a friend to everyone who fears you, to anyone who obeys your orders.’ (Psalms 119:63) The church. More than family, we are friends. More than friends, we are family. God’s family of friends.”

Surely you know the names of your family members, do you not? And of your friends? Knowing names doesn’t simply mean know that they are “Jan” or “John.”

Question: Do you know folks as family and friends more than as “Mere Sunday acquaintances?” Truly this is something to think and pray about.