Does the church still matter in our modern world?After waves of disillusionment, #churchtoo movements, and political divides, it’s easy to question the value of investing in the church.Dr Carmen Joy Imes (PhD, Wheaton) is associate professor of Old Testament at Biola University. She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, and the editor of Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends. Her new book is Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters.Book: Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still MattersDr Carmen Imes' BlogWHAT YOU'LL LEARN:Understanding Our Identity as Being Part of God's FamilyWhy Do People Think God and Church Are Not Relevant?Helping People Who Have Been Hurt by the ChurchABOUT THE GUEST: Dr Carmen Joy Imes (PhD, Wheaton) is associate professor of Old Testament at Biola University. She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, and the editor of Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends. Her new book is Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters.RELATED LINKS:Dr Carmen Imes, Biola UniversityBook: Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still MattersDr Carmen Imes' BlogTIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:00:38 - Introducing Dr Carmen Imes02:40 - God's Heart for Family02:56 - ...God creates a world and intends for everyone to flourish03:07 - ...God's plan to save the world begins with a family04:04 - ...Jesus is the new Adam and the pathway that we become God's family04:27 - Understanding Our Identity as Being Part of God's Family04:50 - ...every human being is the image of God05:32 - ...we are estranged from God so we don't live as God's family06:22 - ...seeing people as potential siblings08:57 - ...western church needs to learn that God works through people who have no power10:57 - ...Esther and Daniel model two different ways of navigating faith under oppressive empires11:47 - Why Do People Think God and Church Are Not Relevant?12:20 - ...individualism13:01 - ...quest for happiness14:05 - ...but encouragingly, religion is no longer a private matter, but people want to know what you believe16:35 - ...to share in the sufferings of others is part of what it means to become part of God's family18:03 - ...the most effective form of evangelism right now is coming alongside pe