Psalm 68 informs us that God is “a father of the fatherless, a judge and protector of the widows.” The psalm also says that He places lonely people in families, gives the desolate a home to live in, and leads prisoners out into prosperity.
Bible verses such as these inspired Christians to open their homes to the lonely, build orphanages, and help criminal offenders to regain their self-respect through honest, productive work. Dr. Barnardo, George Muller, the Earl of Shaftsbury, and other famous names of bygone days were associated with benevolent works established in Christ’s name. Like the huge industries that were established in the 19th Century, many of the great charitable institutions founded in that era are either going or have gone.
These days, we need nets: supportive relationships that can uphold us in times of personal crisis. It’s not “when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when you’re feeling sad” (as the song puts it) but when the family fragments, when job prospects are dismal, and when you’re in financial freefall with no redundancy parachute and are headed for what looks to be a hard landing.
Psalm 68:6 focuses on the home as God’s refuge, as His people open their doors to the needy out of genuine interest and practical love. A family is a refuge if its members are united. A family is a network of relationships, so it can provide soft landings for those who need them.
Broken relationships make nets unworkable, so when family ties begin to fray, it’s time to mend the damage. This may involve heart-to-heart discussion, admittance of failure, deep sorrow and repentance, and the righting of wrongs.
I’ve said all that to say this: a church is an extended family; a strong network of well-maintained relationships. What applies to a family also applies to a church. We will be as effective in helping people as we are strong in the ties of faith, hope and love that have joined us together in Christ. Many families in freefall without supportive family nets are seeking them increasingly in Christian church relationships.
Let’s make sure that we’re ready to catch them.