Monday, August 5, 2013

All in God's family


Let's examine this thing we call family today. Long-time readers will know that I am adopted. That comes with a whole bunch of different thoughts and feelings, but mainly what it comes with is a question. Who were they? Why did they? And who are these persons I'm not related to who are called family?

The Bible says of family: "Tell these things to the people so that they will do the right thing in their extended family. Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need repudiates the faith. That's worse than refusing to believe in the first place."

Whew. Seems rather important, then, doesn't it?

How do we define family? Just for our purposes, family is a "group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children." The nuclear family is the mother, father and children. The consanguine family is also called an extended family in which "parents and children co-reside with other members of one parent's family."

At this point, we're going to disregard the fact I have no idea what consanguine means. Instead, we go back to the Bible for its higher meaning on family. Paul wrote those words used higher in this blog, and I suspect he did so because there were persons who were leaving their families behind.

I’ve observed that leaving anyone behind isn’t looked upon favorably in scripture.

Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia, “Therefore whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone – especially to those in the family of faith.”

I think ultimately the answer the Bible gives, especially the New Testament, is that all who believe are "family," and should be treated well.

Oh, but that we would. We separate over doctrine. We separate over all things. It is time, I believe, to come together and quit the back-stabbing, quit the anger, quit the division.

Nine years ago, Pope John Paul II catechized on the theme of Psalm 66, "May all peoples glorify the Lord," which he said instructs us to “break down the walls of division, hostility and hatred so that the family of God can gather in harmony” and praise Him.

The Pope said that the phrase "'the earth has yielded its fruit', makes us think of a hymn of thanksgiving, addressed to the Creator for the gifts of the earth, a sign of divine blessing."

The Holy Father explained that “it is revealed to all creatures and all societies that God judges and governs the peoples and the nations in the entire world, leading everyone toward the horizons of justice and peace."

He pointed out that the psalm alludes to the "wall of separation that separated the Jews and the Pagans in the temple of Jerusalem," as described in the Letter to the Ephesians: 'But now in Jesus Christ, you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. In effect, He is our peace: He who made us both one and who has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, enmity. ... So that you are no longer strangers or guests but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."

Fellow citizens. Fellow family. Fellow. No left and right. No conservative, liberal. No Democrat, Republican. No differences. Family. All.

No comments: