Huntington Church of Christ

Since the beginning of time, God has stressed the importance of family. In Genesis 2, He created the woman for man's comfort and company, thus establishing this Divine organization called the home. Soon, children were born and Adam's family multiplied according to God's plan (Genesis 3:16; 4:1-2, 25; 5:1-5)

God chose Abraham's family to bare the hope of Israel -- Jesus, the Christ (Genesis 12;1-3; 22:18; 28:14 cf. Galatians 3:16). Throughout the Old Testament, Jehovah emphasized the importance of Abraham's physical family. "For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice. To the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him" (Genesis 18:19). The Old Testament is the history of Abraham's family -- the Israelites.

The Importance of The Physical Family

The family relationship is certainly important because it was designed by God. The physical family is a taste of things to come, both in the church an in heaven. The husband is the head and father of the home. He is obliged to follow God's commands in all things (Ephesians 5:23, 25-26, 28-29; 1 Corinthians 11:3). The wife is responsible to subject herself unto her husband (Ephesians 5:22, 24). Both are to leave father and mother, severing the parental authority and establishing a new family in God's eye. "...the two shall become one flesh...what therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder" (Matthew 19:4-6). It is within this relationship ALONE, that man and woman are to satisfy the sensual desires of the flesh (1 Corinthians 7:2,3; Hebrews 13:4).

Children are also to be a part of this Divine unit called the family. God revealed, "children are a heritage of Jehovah; and the fruit of the womb is His reward" (Psalms 127). Within the family, children are instructed concerning the ways of God (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Ephesians 6:1-4). Obedience is required (Colossians 3:20). Love and unity is to be a foundational stone (Colossians 3:19; Titus 2:4; Matthew 19:4-9).

The Importance of the Spiritual Family

In 1 Timothy 3:15 Paul teaches that "the church of the living God" is the house or family of God. This is a spiritual relationship where God is the father (Hebrews 12:6-9) and the Christian is His child (Romans 8:15-17). Therefore, a wonderful family relationship is enjoyed between Christians. We are brethren -- brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. As Jesus taught in Matthew 19, we have gained a hundredfold brethren and sisters, and fathers and mothers. Like the physical relationship, love is to be an ever abiding characteristic (Romans 12;10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13;1). We treat the older Christian as fathers and mothers. The younger Christian is regarded as brothers, sisters and children (1 Timothy 1,2; Titus 1:4). Like Abraham's physical family, the spiritual family of God should put away strife and divisions, and seek after unity (Genesis 13:8; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Ephesians 4:1-6).

Important To Remember

Surely, God intended for the physical family to shadow and merge with the spiritual family, thus all blessings could be richly enjoyed in both relationships. What greater joy could be experienced than seeing one's fleshly children and grandchildren grow up to respect and obey God's commandments and establish their own godly homes. There is a relationship that transcends the physical blood flowing through our veins. It is a relationship of spirits -- created by God the Father, in His image, and given to all men (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

As important as they physical family is, we must never allow family members to come between God and ourselves (Luke 9:59-62). Although the pain appears unbearable, we must not let the sins of our loved ones affect our faithfulness to God. Too often, mates, parents, and children follow and even support erring relatives in sinful conduct (1 Corinthians 15:33). God must come before our husbands and wives, parents and children. Jesus said, "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:34-39). Jesus manifested this attitude in His own life (Luke 2:49; Mark 3:31-35). Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4; 22:1-10; Hebrews 11:8-10, 17-19) and the Israel nation (Deuteronomy 7:1-4; Ezra 9,10) also serve as good examples of this disposition. God's will must be done. Our first allegiance must be directed to God and His Son! (Matthew 22:37,38)

Jesus pulled no punches and minced no words when He said, "Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law: and a man's foes (shall be) they of his own household." (Matthew 19:34-36) Sadly, choices must be made. And if it should so be that we must give up our physical families to follow Christ, be assured, we have been promsied a larger and more affluent family! "Every one that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19:27-29)

Daniel S. Dow
Huntington Church of Christ