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Church is not a building – or a club, or society, or religion, or even a charity. While we have characteristics of all these, the church’s primary identity, according to God in Scripture, is FAMILY. We know this because God most regularly presents Himself to us as a Father. Church as Family is not a feel-good metaphor; it is reality. So when it comes to church membership, we need to be okay seeing ourselves as children – and everything that implies. When it comes to leadership, we should expect God’s Biblical leadership model to mirror that of family. And it does! Elders are fathers, deacons are mothers. Church is meant to have both – two distinct and complementary callings. If we can really embrace our identity as God’s family, the world will see God as He most desires to be known – as a loving Father!