Family
“So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.” 1 Corinthians 12:25
Many families these days are totally disjointed and to use a catch phrase, dysfunctional. (One of my friends maintains at least there is “fun” in dysfunction!) Even Christian homes are not all they are cracked up to be, or portray the love of Christ as they should.
But then, even in the time of Paul, the church, which is the family of God, was struggling with the same issues we have today. Paul strongly admonished the Corinthians because they were ready to disregard those who were not exactly like them, who thought a little differently from them, and did things in another way.
In our family nucleus we have very dissimilar children, and my spouse and I are also poles apart. I tend to leap before I look, he measures how many steps the leap will take; I will make friends easily and see the good in all. He is more cautious, but also more discerning.
Two of our kids are highly sensitive and their feelings get hurt easily — they are also the most artistic. There are times when I want to scream in frustration because I’m not sensitive in the same way they are — but they are my children so I have to swallow that frustration and deal with them in the manner that works for them, not necessarily for me. But in taking time to deal with them in that fashion, I have also taught them how to handle hurt feelings.
My husband and I have had to learn to compromise as well; he has learnt not to be so cautious and overcome his fear of taking risks; I have learnt to listen to him more and count the cost before jumping off the cliff!
No family is ever going to perfect, not as long as you’re in it! That is true for your home, and your church home. We tend to befriend those who think like us, and ignore those who are different. However, can you really do that in your home or even at church? Paul was very clear on this point — we don’t have that right!
Take a moment to think of the members of your own family — do you love any of your children less because they think differently from you? Then you can’t do that in your church family either.
The beauty, I believe, to having so many diverse people in the family is that when a problem comes up, you have more than one way of looking at it and possibly resolving it. That’s definitely a plus!
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I really enjoyed reading this article. It is a message we all need to be reminded of.
Timely article with good examples and fresh perspective. Thank you!
Life, as one will note, is a never ending lesson, a learning process in progress and this article brings that forth. To see in others what one lacks and adjust to accomodate such differences in the self is a lesson learnt.
This topic is very necessary, so first off I thank you for writing it. Usually, when others are not within our standrad(s) we tend to disregard or think lowly of them. When in actuality we need to look at ourselves. The question we should ask ourselves are why are we responding (feeling) the way we do (knowing that this is not The LOVE of CHIRST)? I use to judge and criticize others because they did not hold the same viewpoint (as mines), but today (with a godly porspective) I am able to check myself in with GOD (find out what is the root to my behavior). My attitude has changed drastically because everything I saw as wrong (with others) was exactly what I needed to change about myself (this TRUTH has set me free)!
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