We're the Christian Reformed Church in North America. That's
our name. But what's in that name?
Our name is Christian because we confess that we belong to
Jesus Christ and want to be his followers.
Our name is Reformed because we're part of that historic branch
of the Christian church.
Our name is Church because God has called us to be a fellowship
of his people ln the world.
We add North America because our churches are located throughout
Canada and the United States. We have central offices in Burlington,
Ontario, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. We broadcast on radio
and television out of our studios in the Chicago area, and
our program of Christian outreach circles the globe.
But who, really, are we? We like to think of ourselves as
a family. That's a very biblical way of thinking, for the
Bible often describes the church as the family of God and
refers to God as "our Father." To, speak of God
as our heavenly Father is to confess not only that he is the
one that made us and now controls every part of our lives
but also that we're children of that Father. We live under
the authority, love, and care of a Father to whom we must
give childlike trust and obedience.
But if we think of ourselves as God's children, We must also
think of each other as brothers and sisters. And we do. Sometimes
our family character makes us seem aloof to others. Sometimes
we have family squabbles. But we know what it means to be
together. We worship together. We do the Lord's work together.
We visit our sick, bring meals to our shut-ins, weep with
those who sorrow, rejoice with those who celebrate. We bear
each other's burdens, increase each other's joys, and enrich
each other's lives.
This family self-understanding fashions our picture of what
it means to live as Christians. We remember that children
aren't their parents' children only at mealtime or bedtime.
Brothers and sisters don't belong to the same family only
when they walk to school together. Being a family involves
our whole life, in all its parts. To think of God as our Father,
ourselves as his children, and each other as brothers and
sisters means living all of life together under God's authority,
in the embrace of his love, with deep concern for each other.
That's who we are. The Christian Reformed Church--family.
Children of one heavenly Father. Brothers and sisters by a
common faith in Jesus Christ. We find it big and exciting
-- an adventure in living, working, and worshiping as part
of God's family. It's an adventure we'd like to share.
This summary is from "Belonging: An
Introduction to the Faith and Life of the Christian Reformed
Church." |
