The Importance of Family

[Elder-Elect Justin Sudler]

On May 27, 2007, my Aunt Hannah, who is my godmother and favorite aunt, had went through the loss of her husband, as their son Lee Anthony, who is 9 years old at the time, went through the loss of his father. Although none of my relatives see him except for my Aunt Hannah and my cousin Lee Anthony, I do feel their pain because they're part of my family. In addition, when my pastor Pezavia White, who was my spiritual father and mentor, went on home to be with the Lord on September 1, 2006, I had to mourn with his relatives, including his widow, who is his successor and who happens to be the first cousin of my paternal grandfather. You must understand that when your friend or relative loses a loved one, you need to grieve with them because when they're hurt, you feel hurt, too. Just like when your ankle hurts, your whole body hurts. Family is an important thing. Think about the song, "I Need You To Survive", by Hezekiah Walker. We as a family need to support each other. That's why I thank God for putting my relatives in my life to make sure that I go to church and receive spiritual nourishment. My Aunt Hannah had raised me as if I'm her own son when she didn't have children of her own. She was the woman who helped raised me in church and loving the Lord as my mother did. I know about the fruits of her labor. Families are important because you need to put yourself on the backburner and take care of your family members. You support your relatives when they're in trouble, in financial need, need spiritual growth, doing something great such as graduation from high school and college, preaching a first sermon, going in ministry, etc. In addition, when children don't have fathers in the home, positive male role models are needed in their lives. As we minister to ourselves, we minister to our relatives. By the way, understand that family doesn't have to be limited to biological. Just as our natural family, we have a family called the Body of Christ when we have God as our Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ as our Elder Brother. Proverbs 27:17 states that iron sharpens iron, just as a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. As people in the Body of Christ, we strengthen each other and encourage each other. What we do is we pray together and for each other, fast, do footwashing, and partake in Communion together. We have what we call fellowship. Fellowship is derived from the Greek word Koinonia, meaning mutual relationship with God and fellow believers. Fellowship doesn't necessary mean going to church and having good food, such as collard greens, fried chicken, pigs feet, macaroni and cheese, chitlins, yams, and sweet potato pie. Fellowship means to have common ground with each other. It's time for us to stop arguing with each other over small matters, especially if it's Presbyterians vs. Methodists, Methodists vs. Baptists, Baptists vs. Pentecostals, COGICs vs. Apostolics, and the other crazy competitions. It makes God very sick to His stomach when you sow discord amongst the brethen and accuse the people who don't have the same agreement with you on the non-essentials for not being on God's side. Talking about if you argue over the non-essentials including modes of Baptisms, speaking in tongues and spiritual gifts, women wearing pants, certain televangelists you don't agree with, women preachers and pastors, the Holy Hip Hop issue, etc. Some of you may justify with the scripture, "How would two walk together if they don't agree?" But, we must understand that in the essentials, we have unity and in the non-essentials, we have liberty. Just because one person supports the Holy Hip Hop doesn't mean that he's unsaved. Just as your mom may not fry chicken the way that my mom does, but both of them have methods of getting things done. So, we must understand that within the non-essentials, we must agree to disagree. But also, we as believers in Jesus Christ must have common ground within the essentials, including the fact that Jesus is the only way to salvation, the bible is the infallable word of God, and holiness is important. Yes, some of us may come from different church and denominational backgrounds, including the Methodists, Calvinists, Baptists, Pentecostals, Bapticostals, Methocostals, Anglicostals, Presbyterians, Apostolics, Presbycostals, COGICs, etc. But we need to put aside our denominational differences and be like the 12 Apostles on the Day of Pentecost who were in the upper room on one accord. The unsaved are very impressionable, so we need to stop arguing over the non-essentials and start going out to win souls. Life is too short for this pettiness. I hope this message blesses you, and if you agree with this message, say amen!!!