Recently, some acquaintances of mine have reminded me - more so with "deed" than "words" that I am not "family". Now, I know I must be gracious, loving and calm... so, let me bring this concept of "family" full circle...
Family
A family - in it's purest since - is a gaggle of individuals associated either by blood or marriage. Note - I did not mention that all parties had to "like" each other, much less "love" each other.
But, consider that the term "family" often conjures up differing images (and viewpoints, considering the orphans among us) of the organism that speaks to who we are as it relates to our own households. Given this line of thought, consider the basic structure of the family, as outlined in Scripture:
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." ~ Exodus 20:12 ESV
"Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table." ~ Psalm 128:3 ESV
"Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them." ~ Colossians 3:19 ESV
Nuclear families, single-parent families, later-in-life families, multi-generational families, etc. etc. Okay, so there are fathers, mothers, wives, children and husbands... it seems one's family is more than a simple "man-and-wife" iconic image nowadays.
But, did you know that you CAN be members of another family without being related by blood or marriage? It's true, and it's AWESOME!.
Now, I know... there will be times when you get the feeling that there are some family dynasties you just can't get your foot in the threshold of - it happens.
I mean, most of us have folks we're very close to - outside our own"'blood-and-marriage" only families - and yet, this may intimidate some within these larger family dynasties who either resent the fact that you're so "close" or they run interference against your newly realized "adoption" (or 'grafting in') of us into their "sacred territory"... designed to keep us at "arms length", whatever the motivation.
However sad (real) that may be, if they claim the name of Christ, their position of preserving the genetic integrity of their family unit rests upon "sinking sand"...that is, in light of Scripture:
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." ~ John 1:12 ESV
"If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." ~ 1 Corinthians 12:26 ESV
"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." ~ Galatians 6:10 ESV
One family of God - wow! Commonality run amok - tough, isn't it? And we're encouraged to edify others in the same household? Mercy!
Yet, how sad is it to see the modern 21st century American church pick-and-choose not only who enjoins their respective corporate fellowships, but also pick-and-choose the saints that they should be calling "brother" and "sister".
Seems I can't avoid one without the other, subsequently...
Marriage
Till death do us part. It's sorta like gravity - either you act as if it's there (straight-leg Infantry) or not (Airborne Infantry). I've always teased my wifey with one of two (recurring) jokes...
1) Marriage is forever... I got two acres, a shovel and a bag of lye... they'll never find the body; or,
2) Yes sir (or ma'am), we've been married for twenty-five years. (Then I wait for the startled response, to which I ask...) Why does that surprise you? Do you think I could've gotten out early with "good behavior"?
But, all kidding (and, yes, for sooth, I was in fact "kidding") regardless of it's longevity (or lack thereof), what IS marriage?
There have been scholars scoring writings throughout time on the matter - historical and within classical works - but, let's simply look at one source... the Holy Bible:
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." ~ Genesis 2:24 ESV
"To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband..." ~ 1 Corinthians 7:10 ESV
"But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God." ~ 1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV
Seems to me that it's pretty plain, just based off this ONE source... a marriage is the covenant of one MAN, one WOMAN, sanctioned by GOD. (Sigh) And yet the clamor continues these last 50 years on other endorsed relationships (i.e. civil unions, partnerships, LLC's, hero-and-sidekick arrangements, political pandering, et al), in an attempt to redefine marriage... more on that in another blog, True Readers.
Being (or Acting) Black or White
When did it start, in the 1990's? Was it's advent Vanilla Ice, Enemem and other "would-be" white musicians attempting to hijack another culture, attempting to emulate black entertainers? Is there something appealing that the rest of us didn't see?
Or, when did the "fading" affect of Anglo-Saxon culture create opportunities for black men (and women) to start dressing and speaking like Tom Brokaw while vilifying (or simply ignoring) black culture? Do we want to live in a land of no accents where everyone acts, talks and thinks the same?
I think society has created a "Racial Identity Disorder" for itself - yes, that's got to be it. Perhaps it stems from wanting what we want most - even if it's (truly) unattainable?
Whether you affirm this observation or not... 1) the observation HAS been made; and, 2) the proof is there - read:
Have you seen anyone refuse to interact with members of their own race?
Have you ever seen anyone willingly choose to engage in activities with people solely NOT from their own race?
How about hearing anyone voicing dissatisfaction with typical trappings of their own race (e.g. dress, speech, cultural behaviors)?
Okay, know anyone who's changed their name to pay respects to (or embrace) another race other than their own?
Have you ever known of anyone so put off with their own race that they move to another area to be surrounded by those NOT of their own race?
I rest my case.
I guess I'm saying all of that to merely say this... either DO or DON'T do something, either BE or REFUSE TO BE something... but get your double-minded self off the proverbial fence and STAND for something - albeit the single life or marital bliss, your culture or another culture, or even treat all people the same if there's a common thread. No doubt it'd be convenient to be able to tell whose camp each person is in so as to know how to minister to those based (accurately) on who they tell us they are, and be able to take them at face value. MMLIA.
Family
A family - in it's purest since - is a gaggle of individuals associated either by blood or marriage. Note - I did not mention that all parties had to "like" each other, much less "love" each other.
But, consider that the term "family" often conjures up differing images (and viewpoints, considering the orphans among us) of the organism that speaks to who we are as it relates to our own households. Given this line of thought, consider the basic structure of the family, as outlined in Scripture:
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." ~ Exodus 20:12 ESV
"Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table." ~ Psalm 128:3 ESV
"Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them." ~ Colossians 3:19 ESV
Nuclear families, single-parent families, later-in-life families, multi-generational families, etc. etc. Okay, so there are fathers, mothers, wives, children and husbands... it seems one's family is more than a simple "man-and-wife" iconic image nowadays.
But, did you know that you CAN be members of another family without being related by blood or marriage? It's true, and it's AWESOME!.
Now, I know... there will be times when you get the feeling that there are some family dynasties you just can't get your foot in the threshold of - it happens.
I mean, most of us have folks we're very close to - outside our own"'blood-and-marriage" only families - and yet, this may intimidate some within these larger family dynasties who either resent the fact that you're so "close" or they run interference against your newly realized "adoption" (or 'grafting in') of us into their "sacred territory"... designed to keep us at "arms length", whatever the motivation.
However sad (real) that may be, if they claim the name of Christ, their position of preserving the genetic integrity of their family unit rests upon "sinking sand"...that is, in light of Scripture:
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." ~ John 1:12 ESV
"If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." ~ 1 Corinthians 12:26 ESV
"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." ~ Galatians 6:10 ESV
One family of God - wow! Commonality run amok - tough, isn't it? And we're encouraged to edify others in the same household? Mercy!
Yet, how sad is it to see the modern 21st century American church pick-and-choose not only who enjoins their respective corporate fellowships, but also pick-and-choose the saints that they should be calling "brother" and "sister".
Seems I can't avoid one without the other, subsequently...
Marriage
Till death do us part. It's sorta like gravity - either you act as if it's there (straight-leg Infantry) or not (Airborne Infantry). I've always teased my wifey with one of two (recurring) jokes...
1) Marriage is forever... I got two acres, a shovel and a bag of lye... they'll never find the body; or,
2) Yes sir (or ma'am), we've been married for twenty-five years. (Then I wait for the startled response, to which I ask...) Why does that surprise you? Do you think I could've gotten out early with "good behavior"?
But, all kidding (and, yes, for sooth, I was in fact "kidding") regardless of it's longevity (or lack thereof), what IS marriage?
There have been scholars scoring writings throughout time on the matter - historical and within classical works - but, let's simply look at one source... the Holy Bible:
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." ~ Genesis 2:24 ESV
"To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband..." ~ 1 Corinthians 7:10 ESV
"But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God." ~ 1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV
Seems to me that it's pretty plain, just based off this ONE source... a marriage is the covenant of one MAN, one WOMAN, sanctioned by GOD. (Sigh) And yet the clamor continues these last 50 years on other endorsed relationships (i.e. civil unions, partnerships, LLC's, hero-and-sidekick arrangements, political pandering, et al), in an attempt to redefine marriage... more on that in another blog, True Readers.
Being (or Acting) Black or White
When did it start, in the 1990's? Was it's advent Vanilla Ice, Enemem and other "would-be" white musicians attempting to hijack another culture, attempting to emulate black entertainers? Is there something appealing that the rest of us didn't see?
Or, when did the "fading" affect of Anglo-Saxon culture create opportunities for black men (and women) to start dressing and speaking like Tom Brokaw while vilifying (or simply ignoring) black culture? Do we want to live in a land of no accents where everyone acts, talks and thinks the same?
I think society has created a "Racial Identity Disorder" for itself - yes, that's got to be it. Perhaps it stems from wanting what we want most - even if it's (truly) unattainable?
Whether you affirm this observation or not... 1) the observation HAS been made; and, 2) the proof is there - read:
Have you seen anyone refuse to interact with members of their own race?
Have you ever seen anyone willingly choose to engage in activities with people solely NOT from their own race?
How about hearing anyone voicing dissatisfaction with typical trappings of their own race (e.g. dress, speech, cultural behaviors)?
Okay, know anyone who's changed their name to pay respects to (or embrace) another race other than their own?
Have you ever known of anyone so put off with their own race that they move to another area to be surrounded by those NOT of their own race?
I rest my case.
I guess I'm saying all of that to merely say this... either DO or DON'T do something, either BE or REFUSE TO BE something... but get your double-minded self off the proverbial fence and STAND for something - albeit the single life or marital bliss, your culture or another culture, or even treat all people the same if there's a common thread. No doubt it'd be convenient to be able to tell whose camp each person is in so as to know how to minister to those based (accurately) on who they tell us they are, and be able to take them at face value. MMLIA.
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