The (local) Church and Marriage
Replacing the (local) Church with various forms of ministry, or para church organizations, or Christian activities, is as pleasing to God as replacing the family (one husband, one wife, as mother and father, with children) with any other form or or configuration or combination that can be imagined.
FORM IS NOT ENOUGH...
God's plan includes more than outward form. For a family and/or (local) Church to,
Enjoy Divine Privileges,
Experience Divine Power,
Exhibit Divine Productivity,
families and (local) Churches must meet Biblical standards and follow God's leading. There are standards, directives, responsibilities, incumbent upon,
husbands,
wives,
pastors,
parents,
children,
parishioners,
which must be followed, rather than substituted for political correctness or denominational correctness.
The vitality of a family and a local church is demonstrated in their love. Love in a family and in a church is active and visible, and submissive to Divine authority.
I have always taught, as a pastor, that the local church is the spiritual extended family. Just as there is a place for each member of an individual family (home), there is a place for the local church in that home. It is not a matter of one or the other, since they are both part of one. Nuclear family should not be sacrificed for corporate, local church family, but nuclear family never reaches its full potential when disconnected from the local church family. And, it is not simply or only formal, it is functional, relational, vital.
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