Broken Relationships In Christian Families? (agnostic, believe, scripture, sinners)
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34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35For I am come 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.
36And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
That saying has certainly come true for my family. I am wondering just how common broken relationships are in Christian households. (which, in theory, should be better off than non-Christian, but are they really?)
In my family (mom, dad, siblings, wives, husbands, etc) there are several who will not speak to each other, or have anything to do with each other. Nothing I have done or said seems to be helping to change that...it's sad. This problem seems to come into focus more acutely on holidays, when family gatherings occur.
How is your family faring? I thought I'd post a discrete poll...
As you can see by my vote my family is faring very poorly. And some of it can never be fixed. Some of i t is just plain stubbornness and would be easy to fix with simple apologies. But we can't control other people and how they handle themselves and sometimes it's better to cut someone completely out of your life if they are toxic. Even if it's immediate family. That's what I have had to do, for my own well being.
34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35For I am come 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.
36And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
That saying has certainly come true for my family. I am wondering just how common broken relationships are in Christian households. (which, in theory, should be better off than non-Christian, but are they really?)
In my family (mom, dad, siblings, wives, husbands, etc) there are several who will not speak to each other, or have anything to do with each other. Nothing I have done or said seems to be helping to change that...it's sad. This problem seems to come into focus more acutely on holidays, when family gatherings occur.
How is your family faring? I thought I'd post a discrete poll...
Bud
Bud, In the overall context here, do you think Jesus is really talking about just a break in earthly family relationships (Christian or otherwise)? .... Or, is he actually saying that those who love Christ and those who do not love Christ are NOT of the same 'family', even if they belong to the same earthly family. In fact, when he speaks about the 'sword', isn't he talking about God's truth, 'the Sword of God's Word' --which divides many?
Whether a 'family' sings 'Kumbayah' around the campfire or not, is not really the point of this scripture. Unless a family is united in Christ, they can get along as well as the 'Waltons' or 'Cleavers' and still be lost and displeasing to God. In this context, Jesus also said: "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? .. Even sinners love those who love them" (Lk 6:32).
Please understand, I'm not saying that God isn't pleased when Christian families live in harmony and displeased with feuding Christians, but I just don't think that's the point of this scripture. For example, in some families, the break between believers and non-believers is so strong, that the family simply doesn't talk about faith, Christ or God ... "for the sake of family harmony." Do you suppose that is what God has in mind?
Bud, In the overall context here, do you think Jesus is really talking about just a break in earthly family relationships (Christian or otherwise)? .... Or, is he actually saying that those who love Christ and those who do not love Christ are NOT of the same 'family', even if they belong to the same earthly family. In fact, when he speaks about the 'sword', isn't he talking about God's truth, 'the Sword of God's Word' --which divides many?
Whether a 'family' sings 'Kumbayah' around the campfire or not, is not really the point of this scripture. Unless a family is united in Christ, they can get along as well as the 'Waltons' or 'Cleavers' and still be lost and displeasing to God. In this context, Jesus also said: "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? .. Even sinners love those who love them" (Lk 6:32).
Please understand, I'm not saying that God isn't pleased when Christian families live in harmony and displeased with feuding Christians, but I just don't think that's the point of this scripture. For example, in some families, the break between believers and non-believers is so strong, that the family simply doesn't talk about faith, Christ or God ... "for the sake of family harmony." Do you suppose that is what God has in mind?
I think Jesus was predicting that there would soon develop rifts in families, because of some family members following after Him, and others not. And yes, I do believe that He was actually saying that those who love Christ and those who do not love Christ are NOT of the same 'family', as you suggest. I feel WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY closer to my brothers and sisters in Christ, than those of my immediate family, who are not interested in serving God.
It grieves me that there is this huge brick wall between some family members, but I think the Bible warned us it could happen.
I see it like this. When we put our differences aside while in the presence of each other, we can come to terms with where each of us are in our own lives. It shouldn't matter what the other is doing as long as we love each other without condition. It's when we put the condition on things that cause the troubles. When my family and I are all together, we never argue or tell the other they're wrong in what they hold true. It's about being accepting. I may not like what they do but I accept them for the children of God that they are. Their path is their own and it's not up to me to give them another.
I love my family. I may disagree with some or all of the things they do but they are love first and that is what I see when we are together.
I'm not Christian but my family is very close. I have family members that are Jewish, spiritual, evangelical Christian, agnostic, atheist, etc - and we all get along very well. I'm not saying we are all perfect - we certainly have our share of craziness - but we are all in contact with each other and are able to get along with each other. As for my immdediate family - as far as I'm concerned, I had the best father in the entire world and my mom is my best friend.
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