CHAPTER 4
John Bell describes 3 aspects of family as demonstrated in
the Bible:
·
Ancestral: stories of the Hebrew scriptures
patriarchs and matriarchs, family relationships
·
Jesus’ family of origin, relationships with his
biological relatives
·
Jesus’ teaching about families and faithfulness
Instead of focusing on the nuclear family, the gospel is
rich in examples of the surrogate family, or the very inclusive family of
faith. Where do you see these Christian family values at work in the life of
your faith community?
Image: Cuyler Black
Coming from a dysfunctional family, I was pleased to read that the nuclear family wasn’t the be all and end all back in Jesus’ time. My family when growing up was a faithless family. My questions were not listened to or respected in any way. It was a lonely place for a shy person who had a lot going on upstairs, but no one with whom to discuss it. There are many talented individuals in my ancestors: doctors, veterinarians, Anglican ministers, staunch United Church women, spiritual seekers, administrators, soldiers, dreamers, cooks, and farmers. They would have been an interesting bunch to know. Rideau Park and other churches before RPUC have blessed my faith learning process. I have met faithful people who have encouraged me and shown me wisdom. Groups like bell ringing, book studies, choirs, coffee time community, congregational hymn singing, Sunday morning time, sermons, committees – all of these have opened the idea of unconditional love to me. The emphasis on love rather than judgement has healed my guilty conscience which was passed on to me by my mother, the queen of guilt. God has worked through all of the challenges I’ve had and continues, by various and stunning means to touch me with healing. So, family is not only what you’re born into – it’s the people you meet along the way – the people who are influential in your healing and spiritual growth.
ReplyDeleteI came from a pretty functional family, but work and adulthood and a sense of adventure took me away from that secure nest and gave me an opportunity to build another "surrogate" family. Whenever I am frustrated in family/surrogate family situations, I think of Jacob and Leah and Rachel's love triangle family in Genesis. Even though it was dysfunctional, God found grace in the "hot mess" of family life and planted an amazing family tree there.
ReplyDelete