Title: Family Community / Ephesians 5:29-32
There is one very meaningful word that has swept our society. That's the word 'we'. Our country, our house, our neighborhood, our school, our church, our company... If I had to say it, would 'our wife' even appeared? It clearly proves that Korea has a stronger sense of community than other countries.
However, the concept of a community called 'we' that was so good is slowly being dismantled. In particular, the children's education method of 'Children of Heaven and Heaven (唯我獨尊)', which began to blow when they started having only one or two children, began to instill extreme selfishness. Starting to build a family, we have now reached the age of cruel depersonalization, where even children are thrown away when they become obstacles in their lives. In the end, even in the home, which is the starting point and foundation of the spirit of community, the ripple effect is having a serious impact on the church and the nation's workplace due to the collapse of the spirit of community.
Humans are relational beings. No one can live as a 'solitary general'. You are meant to live face to face with someone. Humans were created as social beings in this way. And only by living like that can we enjoy the happiness that everyone enjoys. Naturally, in order to live like that, the spirit of community must be educated from the family, the core basic unit of society. And that communal spirit must be alive in the home. However, since there are only an uncle who earns money, an aunt who cooks, and children in a rented house, love comes and goes, there is no sacrifice, service, and obedience.
The same is happening in the church as well.
The spirit of community is the starting point and the most basic spirit of the church. But modern churches are not like that. As a humble example, the tendency of church members to avoid new churches and move to large churches is also evident when they go to small churches. The horizontal movement to a large church for a living is happening rapidly.
As such, in our society, it is becoming difficult to find the spirit of community in the home or in the church state. Then, one question is what is the 'community spirit' here? is to do
That is to keep away from the “spirit of sacrifice of the cross” called 'love'.
The core of the spirit of community is 'love'.
The home is a community of love.
The church is also a community of faith and a community of love.
Nevertheless, the sacrifice of love in the home and in the church is cooling off.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, “Love is patient, love is gentle, does not envy, love does not boast, is not arrogant, is not rude, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not envy injustice. It does not rejoice, but rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." We need a heart to understand each other with love, to forgive each other, to bear all things, to believe all things, and to hope for all things.
However, this kind of love, service, obedience, and unity... It is impossible without the spirit of the cross of Jesus. It's nothing more than an ostentatious love, a resounding quagmire. Families and societies with a broken spirit of community have no hope. If the consciousness of 'together with you' disappears and you look at 'only me', the community is bound to collapse at any time.
Right now, the Democratic Party is suffering from severe struggles between conservatives and reformers. A collective strike in the logistics industry that ended a few weeks ago, a competition between all teachers and school principals, and a vote in favor of a strike by public officials
... A surprise demonstration by the Han Chongryon, etc. ..... The country is laughing at the fact that it is a policy that focuses on popularity and individualism rather than a politics that preserves the spirit of 'together together'.
It is the same with the Church of Everlasting Praise.
There are no factions or disputes. Moreover, personal popularity-oriented service and church service will hurt the members a lot.
It's not too late now.
In particular, I will talk about what we must do to build a happy family community centered on the family.
First, establish the authority of the couple.
The first unit of the family is the couple. A good family community can be formed only when the marital relationship is well established. A beautiful couple relationship is not a relationship of domination or subordination, not a relationship where unconditional sacrifice is forced or sacrificed, but it is a relationship of helping each other, understanding and loving each other.
A husband should not try to subdue his wife by force just because he has more power than his wife, nor should he assert his power because he is an outsider making money. This means that even if the wife is the person in charge of the household finances instead of the husband, the order and authority of the couple should be established.
The husband is the head of the wife. In addition, the wife is the body of the husband.
The body and the head cannot play separately. Who is more precious? It's not a question of who's precious? It is one delay. It is one body.
Problematic Family The characteristic of a quarreling family is when the couple's order and power system are concentrated in one person. The greater the difference in power in a marital relationship, the more peaceful it may seem on the outside, but the root of the conflict is the dominant spouse or child. Healthy families have equal or similar marital power. Therefore, the husband must hand over the monopoly power to his wife. Material rights must also be transferred. Money is power.
Since the wife has inherited power from her husband, she should obey her husband with gratitude and respect. You must obey. In doing so, a healthy family, a happy couple, a beautiful couple community will be formed.
Second, make sure to establish a family system.
Even if the couple's authority is beautifully built, there is another power that digs into the gap. It is the power of children. If there is one or many children in the household, there are two children, so the children live in the style of 'Heaven and Heaven and Heaven and Earth'. Children should have less power than their parents.
However, the children are the owners of the house. It is wrong to hold on to children too much and suppress their thoughts and actions, but it can cause bigger problems when children move freely by letting them loose or jumping too much.
How can children who have grown up like this go out to society and go to church to create a beautiful family community, church community, and social community with a sense of community? Have the children run the errands for sleep...because it's okay if you don't study for a few hours? Let them do things they can do for themselves....and it creates a wonderful sense of community.
A person's personality is almost formed in the home.
Good children are born in good families. Good believers come from good churches.
Children's teachers are their parents.
Finally, build a family of sacrifice, service, and obedience.
It is individual selfishness and materialism that disturbs the spirit of community.
Even in the family, there would be no such frivolous and uninteresting family if the couple had conditional relationships and conditional love.
Relationships between parents and children should not be conditional either.
Love, sacrifice, service, and obedience should be the basics.
It should be formed as a relationship-oriented person, not a work-oriented or result-oriented person.
Family intimacy shines more beautifully when we respect, love and make sacrifices for each other.
It should not be a one-sided sacrifice, but a mutual love, service, and sacrifice.
There is no shame in respecting, loving and serving.
In conclusion, let me tell you.
Today we celebrate Family Community Sunday, a day to glorify God with a family hymn contest. Nothing will require unity like singing a hymn. Just like when the pitch, rhythm, and gaze match, the hearts become one and become a beautiful song ....... Couples look at each other often, share many stories, raise their children with the word, and children respectfully serve and obey their parents. When we do and serve each other by sacrificing ourselves, a beautiful family and church will be formed.
On the last Sunday of May Family Month, I pray in the name of the Lord that you and your family will become one in the Lord and become a happy family that blooms with historical laughter.