Love for the Spiritual Family is Higher than Physical Family
Doctrinal Thoughts
Jesus Christ had a unique message that radically challenged the hearts and lives of people. It still challenges us today. The message of utmost love for God sometimes calls us to tough decisions in life. I have noticed that many times we Christians are biased. We sometimes come to the table with biased ideas, slanted thoughts, or tainted leanings toward those who are of our physical family. We often place a higher love and higher appreciation on those of physical ties than we do with those whom are of spiritual ties. Furthermore, we sometimes take sides with our physical family instead of taking sides with the issue of truth. Many of the problems today in the church (spiritual family) and physical family (blood relatives) often occur because some family member does not love nor respect the truth or spiritual ties as much as they do their own physical ties. Let me explain what I mean.
First, though there is the danger of ministers neglecting their physical families for the cause of ministry, there is also the danger of neglecting the spiritual family for physical family. Jesus Christ said to one man whose father had died and who wanted to delay the call to follow Christ for the sake of his physical family: “Follow me now! Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead” (Matt. 8:22). In other words, the call to follow Christ and do the work of Christ was just as high of a priority as to tending to his physical family needs. Second, sometimes families have problems when a husband or wife wants to protect the child from the truth of spiritual consequences. In such cases the love for the child outweighs the love for spiritual truth, which is a sin. In other cases a child may love a mother or father more than they do their spiritual brother and sisters, which is also sin. Jesus Christ said when questioned about why he was tending to the people around him when his mother and brothers wanted his time and attention: “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Then he pointed to his disciples and said, ‘These are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matt. 12:48-50). Then in one of the most powerful teachings on the radical call to love God and truth foremost the Lord said: “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to earth! No, I came to bring a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, and daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household! If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it” (Matt. 10:34-39). A huge problem exists today in that often people do not realize that Christ’s call to him and his purpose is higher on the scale than love for mere physical ties. Here the Lord’s word again: “If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, more than your own life. Otherwise you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me” (Luke 14:26-27). Few of us in today’s church realize how serious the call to discipleship is within the plan of God. God does not accept half hearted, shallow, and divided interests!
Life Application
I have seen many ministries and families ruined because of people’s love for physical family above and beyond the call to truth. It happens in many ways. For example, a student in a classroom performs terrible in a class and fails the course. Father and Mother often berate the educator who may not be at fault because the child simply failed to study. In such a case the parent loves the child more than the truth of Christ. I have seen ministers who cannot perform their ministerial duties because the spouse or children are self-centered and too demanding. In such a case the family’s love is misplaced and misguided. I have seen people fail to follow Christ in numerous ways of life because they love physical ties more than they do Christ. Some people even remain in a church that does not teach truth so they can remain close to physical family members. Ask God in prayer to give you a higher love for him and his truth so that you do not dishonor the name of Christ.
Doctrinal Thoughts
Jesus Christ had a unique message that radically challenged the hearts and lives of people. It still challenges us today. The message of utmost love for God sometimes calls us to tough decisions in life. I have noticed that many times we Christians are biased. We sometimes come to the table with biased ideas, slanted thoughts, or tainted leanings toward those who are of our physical family. We often place a higher love and higher appreciation on those of physical ties than we do with those whom are of spiritual ties. Furthermore, we sometimes take sides with our physical family instead of taking sides with the issue of truth. Many of the problems today in the church (spiritual family) and physical family (blood relatives) often occur because some family member does not love nor respect the truth or spiritual ties as much as they do their own physical ties. Let me explain what I mean.
First, though there is the danger of ministers neglecting their physical families for the cause of ministry, there is also the danger of neglecting the spiritual family for physical family. Jesus Christ said to one man whose father had died and who wanted to delay the call to follow Christ for the sake of his physical family: “Follow me now! Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead” (Matt. 8:22). In other words, the call to follow Christ and do the work of Christ was just as high of a priority as to tending to his physical family needs. Second, sometimes families have problems when a husband or wife wants to protect the child from the truth of spiritual consequences. In such cases the love for the child outweighs the love for spiritual truth, which is a sin. In other cases a child may love a mother or father more than they do their spiritual brother and sisters, which is also sin. Jesus Christ said when questioned about why he was tending to the people around him when his mother and brothers wanted his time and attention: “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Then he pointed to his disciples and said, ‘These are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matt. 12:48-50). Then in one of the most powerful teachings on the radical call to love God and truth foremost the Lord said: “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to earth! No, I came to bring a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, and daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household! If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it” (Matt. 10:34-39). A huge problem exists today in that often people do not realize that Christ’s call to him and his purpose is higher on the scale than love for mere physical ties. Here the Lord’s word again: “If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, more than your own life. Otherwise you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me” (Luke 14:26-27). Few of us in today’s church realize how serious the call to discipleship is within the plan of God. God does not accept half hearted, shallow, and divided interests!
Life Application
I have seen many ministries and families ruined because of people’s love for physical family above and beyond the call to truth. It happens in many ways. For example, a student in a classroom performs terrible in a class and fails the course. Father and Mother often berate the educator who may not be at fault because the child simply failed to study. In such a case the parent loves the child more than the truth of Christ. I have seen ministers who cannot perform their ministerial duties because the spouse or children are self-centered and too demanding. In such a case the family’s love is misplaced and misguided. I have seen people fail to follow Christ in numerous ways of life because they love physical ties more than they do Christ. Some people even remain in a church that does not teach truth so they can remain close to physical family members. Ask God in prayer to give you a higher love for him and his truth so that you do not dishonor the name of Christ.
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