quoting myself

i don't give myself credit for being too smart or prophetic in voice. but i uttered this remark that i said.. "gee, i bet someone else said that and i am just copying. oh well.. i still said it."

at its best the church is a family, at its worst the church is a family. -me

whatcha think?

Comments

[Rick]

And we know all families are dysfunctional in one way of another.

[gavin]

i think that is part of the beauty with the quote. at the church's best, it is a community of people that support, lift up, take care of, teach, and celebrate with each other. at its worst, they bicker, undermine, beat up, get jealous, jockey for power, pull rank, otherwise abuse each other... but you can't have one without some experience of the other, it's just family.

[Eric]

hey Gav, we've never met but I will be quoting you in my message opening this sunday. i'm preaching a series of messages called: All In the Family.

keep feedin' me lines!

Peace,
E

[John]

That's really clever. And very true.

[gavin]

me in a sermon... wow, i don't know if i would subject a congregation to my strange ramblings. &:~)

thanks for the encouragement eric, let me know how it goes

[barbarella]

"at its best the church is a family, at its worst the church is a family"

I love how this family metaphor speaks to ancestry and indivisible bonds, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. How Ephesian! I also think it reflects the paradox of familial love as both a safe haven and insane asylum. Profound indeed, regardless of its origin. I'll be crediting you as I (ab)use it. Thank you for posting it.

BTW, I've done the DIY Religion which included both study and isolation, somewhat like a modern monk. While I learned much, and deeply, my spiritual formation really soared once I was engaged in community. So I believe, in my heart and empirically, and that we are revealed through connection. What better metaphor than a family to convey this? Again, thank you for this.

[gavin]

thanks barbarella for the compliment, i am too simple minded to think that deeply about my own thoughts, but it is an excellent point.