Theology of the Family of Families
 
            In order for God’s plan for the Family of Families to be properly fulfilled, the local church must be viewed as more than a social institution to be joined; it must be seen as an extended surrogate family (1 Tim. 3:14-15).  When an individual comes to faith in Christ, he or she does not solely acquire a new Father – God; he or she also gains a new Family - the Church (Eph. 1:3-6, 2:19).
            That being so, the Family of Families functions as a multi-generational gathering of believers that recognizes both young and old as its significant components.  As such, members of the local church are to be mutually regarded as fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, grandfathers and grandmothers, and esteemed with the same respect and support that one would his own biological family (1 Tim. 5:1-16).  Older women are to assist younger women in establishing godly homes: loving their husbands and children, responding to the headship of their husbands, and managing their home in a way that pleases God (Titus 2:3-5). Older men, likewise, are to train younger men to be temperate, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance and to love their wives and children as Christ has commanded (Titus 2:2,6; Ephesians 5:25-33, 6:4).
            As part of the Family of Families, believers are instructed to use their gifts for the universal benefit of its members and to make the regular meeting together for encouragement and instruction its standard of practice  (1 Cor. 12:7; Heb. 10:25). Further, the local church must be characterized by its concern for the local community through acts of service and charity (Gal. 6:10; Phil. 2:4) and by its commitment to local and foreign missions (Acts 1:8). Functioning as it should, the Family of Families will serve as a powerful testimony to a dark and hurting world which so desperately needs the Light of Christ (John 13:35; Titus 2: 5, 8,10).