One of the resounding themes you find throughout the Bible is that of the family. All the way in Genesis 2, we get the foundation of this building block for society, when God created the woman from the man, gave her to him, and united them as one flesh. Since then, the foundation of family has been central to society in God's eyes, and in the practical matters of this world.
So it isn't surprising, then, that we would find that Satan would attack families. It's not surprising to discover that our sinful nature rebels against the idea and thought of commiting ourselves to our spouse and to our children, regardless of what may come our way. If God intended for families to be good, and to be the foundation of life in this world, then all that is opposed to God will fight to destroy that foundation, or to cause it to be something other than what God designed it to be.
Often we hear in the Christian Church that we battle for marriage. In doing so, we battle for family. However, one of the realities that we face is that families don't always look like our traditional idea of family. The reality of "Leave it to Beaver" may never truly have been the reality, even in its day, but today we are very familiar with the variety of what is called family.
Sadly, we as Christians have not always fought diligently for family. Too often, we have settled for waiting around and picking up the pieces when family falls apart. We look at what society calls family, and while we may be vocal against some of the forms that it has taken, very rarely are we going out and talking to those who are actually creating such families. Very rarely are we talking about why God's wisdom lies in the fashion in which He created family. Truth be told, we've spent far too much time complaining rather than in fighting for family.
This week, I'm going to be dedicating my blog to explaning the foundation of family ministry at Oak Road Lutheran Church. What you will probably find as you follow along is that family ministry resists any particular form or approach, but rather, encompasses a wide range of approaches, even as we see that family resists any particular definition. So, rather than being specific, what you will find in the entries ahead is the foundation of what we will be building, led by God's Spirit, to battle for family, and to teach God's wisdom in holding to family in the way that He designed and fashioned it.
Yes, you may read this and think I'm being rather vague. Truly, I am, but I will be fleshing this out more in the entries to come. I encourage your feedback, especially for those of you who are part of Oak Road, as we journey to minister with families, to strengthen them, and to teach others God's wisdom.
So it isn't surprising, then, that we would find that Satan would attack families. It's not surprising to discover that our sinful nature rebels against the idea and thought of commiting ourselves to our spouse and to our children, regardless of what may come our way. If God intended for families to be good, and to be the foundation of life in this world, then all that is opposed to God will fight to destroy that foundation, or to cause it to be something other than what God designed it to be.
Often we hear in the Christian Church that we battle for marriage. In doing so, we battle for family. However, one of the realities that we face is that families don't always look like our traditional idea of family. The reality of "Leave it to Beaver" may never truly have been the reality, even in its day, but today we are very familiar with the variety of what is called family.
Sadly, we as Christians have not always fought diligently for family. Too often, we have settled for waiting around and picking up the pieces when family falls apart. We look at what society calls family, and while we may be vocal against some of the forms that it has taken, very rarely are we going out and talking to those who are actually creating such families. Very rarely are we talking about why God's wisdom lies in the fashion in which He created family. Truth be told, we've spent far too much time complaining rather than in fighting for family.
This week, I'm going to be dedicating my blog to explaning the foundation of family ministry at Oak Road Lutheran Church. What you will probably find as you follow along is that family ministry resists any particular form or approach, but rather, encompasses a wide range of approaches, even as we see that family resists any particular definition. So, rather than being specific, what you will find in the entries ahead is the foundation of what we will be building, led by God's Spirit, to battle for family, and to teach God's wisdom in holding to family in the way that He designed and fashioned it.
Yes, you may read this and think I'm being rather vague. Truly, I am, but I will be fleshing this out more in the entries to come. I encourage your feedback, especially for those of you who are part of Oak Road, as we journey to minister with families, to strengthen them, and to teach others God's wisdom.
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