Marks of the Family

Bill and Gloria Gaither have wrote many great songs, but one that sticks in your head and you sing forever is "The Family of God" It was written during a time of suffering for a family in their church, and they were glad to know there was someone around to take care of them.

But what makes a person part of the family?  What are the marks of a healthy church member?  In I Corinthians 12-13 Paul lays out the marks for a healthy member, and we will be camped out there until the holidays.

A church member has unity in diversity
There is a variety of gifts, but the same Spirit
There is a variety of ministries, but the same Lord
There is a variety of effects, but the same God

Churches tend to fall in two camps
Diversity at all costs
Unity at all costs

Neither is a biblical picture of what God intended for the church to be.  Unity in diversity is a picture of the triune God-head, and can be accomplished by keeping the little things little and the big things big.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

1 Cor 12:3-11