Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Chattanooga Times Free Press President Jeff DeLoach poses in the studio on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn.Almost every year, my Christmas column mentions that Christmas reminds me of the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ, and of family.
As I was reflecting on this year’s words, the phrase “brothers in Christ” kept coming to my heart and mind. This might be because recently I had a close, lifelong friend pass away. My wife and I had the opportunity to attend his funeral service. We spent time there with many people we knew but had not seen in years. The reunion reminded me of a reunion we had a few years ago with two couples over a weekend getaway. We had met these couples through church when we lived in Corpus Christi, Texas. While we stay in touch with them, we had not seen them in a while. When the six of us first saw each other in the hotel lobby where we were staying, it was like seeing family – similar to the funeral we recently attended. It was heartwarming to see the couples, and we reconnected quickly. No doubt we have different earthly interests, but we have an awesome, unique bond – we are of one family, the family of God. I consider these guys (and gals) to be my brothers and sisters in Christ.
My wife and I have a number of these relationships in Chattanooga and throughout Tennessee, but also in Texas. While there are miles of distance between us, we do not feel that distance in part because our connections have something in common, Jesus Christ. I am reminded of a memory that hits home. At a church we attended for years, and where we established relationships, we grew particularly fond of our associate pastor and his family. He and his wife had two children the same age as two of our children. I recall him making us aware God was calling them to a church several states away. I share this because when it hit me they were leaving our church – though happy for him because I knew he was being obedient to God’s call – I felt remorse and regret. Remorse because I would miss seeing them, but also regret that I had not spent more time with him over the years.
Returning to thoughts about family, when we usually think or talk about family, we are referring to our earthly family. The two stories I shared remind me of the uniqueness of the bond I share with my brothers and sisters in Christ. It feels very much like family, and no wonder – God has told us as believers in Christ Jesus we are all family with one father.
John 1:12 reads: “But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name.” In Mark, when a crowd told Jesus his mother, his brothers and his sisters were outside asking for him, Jesus said, according to Mark 3:35, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister and mother.” In Romans 12:5, we are told as believing Christians we … “are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” Romans 12:10 instructs us to “show family affection to one another with brotherly love.” Scripture goes on and on tying Christians together as one family of God.