he concept of family is vital in the Bible and was introduced in the very beginning: Genesis 1:28, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number…God’s plan for creation was for men and women to marry and have children. A man and a woman would form a “one-flesh” union through marriage (Genesis 2:24), and they with their children would become a family, the essential building block of human society.
Two of the Ten Commandments deal with maintaining the cohesiveness of the family. The fifth commandment regarding honoring parents is meant to preserve the authority of parents in family matters, and the seventh commandment prohibiting adultery protects the sanctity of marriage. From these two commandments flow all of the various other stipulations in the Mosaic Law which seek to protect marriage and the family.
The theological concept of family. “While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’ He replied, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matthew 12:46-50). Jesus is not saying that biological family isn’t important; He is making the clear theological point that in the Kingdom of Heaven, the most important family connection is spiritual, not physical.
As Christians, we are part of this incredible spiritual family, having been adopted into the family of God which is composed of those that have been born again of water and of the Spirit. And just as with our natural family, we likewise have a great responsibility to nourish and protect those within the body of Christ. Let us spend this special season of the year reminding all those that we call family of our care, love and thankfulness for their special role in our lives.
The Essential Building Block
