The Diabolical Destruction of The Church as a "Spiritual Family” Part 1

Many decades ago, it became clear that there was a diabolical assault on the New Testament understanding of marriage and family.  In response to this ungodly attack, ministries like “Focus on The Family” arose to meet the challenge.

Equally diabolical and destructive, but little noticed, has been the assault on the New Testament understanding of the local church as “Spiritual Family” and the corresponding degradation of familial spiritual relationships within local church families.

“Brother and Sisters” The word “brother” is used 145 times starting in Acts to Revelation.  One of the last references is Rev. 12:10 … For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

“Brother and Sister” in the Early Church: The understanding of local church as “family” was so pervasive in the early apostolic church that a common accusation against them was “Incest”! Why? They called themselves “brothers” and “sisters”, which early opponents mistook as literally meaning that brothers and sisters were practicing incestuous marriage.

“Brother and Sister” in 20th Century Churches: Even in the late 20th century, Baptist Christians commonly called each other “brother” and “sister”. In acknowledging this, my concern is NOT the disuse of the term “Brother” and “Sister”, but the loss of the New Testament understanding that the Church is “Spiritual Family”. From my observation, this loss of understanding has seriously wounded local churches. This is especially true regarding local church leadership.

The Diabolical Strategy: Any military tactician can tell you that one of the most efficient ways to defeat an army is to attack its control and command structure. The enemy has been targeting local church leadership since the beginning. One modern aspect of this attack is obliterating the New Testament understanding that local church leaders are spiritual “mothers” and “fathers” to their local church family.

Where is Spiritual Parenthood Taught in the New Testament?

Remember, Paul repeatedly called Timothy his "son" and "my child" (1 Tim. 1:2, 2 Tim. 1:2,).  Paul called both Titus and Onesimus his "child" (Tit. 1:4, Phm. 10). Peter called John Mark his "son" (1 Pet. 5:13). John and Paul called their readers "my little children" (Gal. 4:19, 1 Jn. 2:1).  Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers: "for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.” (1 Cor. 4:14–15). 

Where was Spiritual Parenthood Demonstrated in Early Church History?

Today, Evangelical Protestant scholars call the successors of the Apostles "The Ante-Nicene Fathers". These same Evangelical Protestant scholars call the ancient Church monastics "The Desert Fathers".  In fact, the early apostolic Church widely accepted and used the affectionate title of "Father" ("Abba") for their bishops/overseers.

Part Two: Recovering Mother and Father Leadership in The Local Church.