One of my favorite images of the Church is the family of God. But you need to know that it is one of several metaphors used for the community of believers. It is a holy nation, a royal priesthood, and God’s special possession.

It is also like an army. Throughout the New Testament, the writers refer to people serving the Lord as soldiers. The Apostle Paul calls doing the work of ministry the good fight. Believers are to have on the full armor of God as they carry the Sword of the Spirit. We have an enemy, and we wage war against the forces of evil. Battle imagery is prevalent in most of the letters of the New Testament.

Each image has different connotations. There are lessons to be learned from a family and military personnel’s practices.

For me, family conjures up pictures of warm summer evenings, sitting around the fire, sharing a drink, a laugh, and the warmth of love. Being in the armed services paints a very different picture. There is basic training, facing dangerous situations, being on high alert, and depending on your fellow soldiers to protect you. It is not warm and friendly; it is challenging and demanding. 

I hope that when people connect to a Church, they become a part of a loving family. They also need to know that they are enlisting in the army and that their comrades depend on them to take their jobs seriously. At times, it will be demanding, but victory is assured.   

In children’s Church, we used to sing, “I may never march in the infantry, ride in the calvary, or shoot the artillery, but I am in the Lord’s Army.” My childish brain could not comprehend all that might mean, but as a mature believer, you need to understand that the song is still valid.