RushwaveChapter 5: The Church as a Relational Community (part 2)
from Church Vision, book 3 in the series The Christian Faith
Godly older men are to lead dignified lives and serve as role models for younger men. Paul exhorted Titus: “Urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach ...” Titus 2:6-7. Being a role model involves living a life which is observable by others. Older, godly men in the church are to be accessible to younger men so they can observe a godly life and follow that example. And younger men should seek out such men so they can learn from them.
Older women are to be a source of encouragement, support and instruction to younger wives and mothers. Paul again exhorted Titus, but this time regarding women in the church: “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior … teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children …” Titus 2:3-4. Being a wife or mother is challenging and fraught with hardships and difficulties which an older, godly woman has been through. Older women are to provide support and counsel to such younger women, so they may be encouraged to stay the course and persevere. And younger women should view older, godly women as a resource and have ongoing relationships.
Believers are to communicate in a way which encourages them to engage in good deeds. “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together …” Hebrews 10:24. Part of the reason for a church gathering is so believers can talk to, encourage and exhort each other to engage in good deeds. There are many ways this can be accomplished such as by sharing a personal experience about how God used a good deed; openly praying for God to give the believer wisdom in how best to meet a pressing need, or being willing to assist that believer in the good deed he is attempting to do.
Believers are to be open about their faults and struggles, and pray for one another. “Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another …" James 5:16. It is often difficult to be open about one’s failures, and certainly this scripture is not suggesting confessing a personal failure in a graphic way which is inappropriate. Nonetheless it is important to relate one’s faults and ongoing struggles with a view towards receiving prayer from others. Believers should feel free to request prayer from others, and also be willing to pray for others. Openly praying for fellow church members is not something reserved for pastoral staff – it is something all believers should do.
Believers are to be empathetic and grieve with those who grieve, and rejoice with those who rejoice. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." Romans 12:15. There is truth in an old saying: “A sorrow shared is half a sorrow; a joy shared is twice a joy.” It is impossible to grieve or rejoice with other believers if you do not even know anything about them. And part of that communication involves sharing the highs and the lows, the things that have brought joy as well as the things that have brought grief.
Believers are to be compassionate, tenderhearted and forgiving, showing kindness to one another when wronged. “… be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing …” 1 Peter 3:8. “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32. It is impossible to have relationships with others without being offended at some point. Being offended is the inevitable result of relating to imperfect people. But rather than responding to offenses with retaliation, believers are to be kind and forgiving recognizing they themselves are imperfect and have been forgiven through Christ.
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