Responsibility to Family

I was lucky in my early Christian days, because I had no family.  A cast out from my birth family, isolated to the Pacific Northwest of the USA where no one would have to deal with me, a clueless 18 year old and it could have gone terribly wrong - but it didn't.  God brought into my life people whom unknown to me at the time, were needed to fill the holes in my life.  There were those whom played the roles of parents, siblings, friends and even grandparents.  Without them I would never have made it.

Last night was another of those nights where ending up in ER seemed to be a real threat, my heart just was not able to keep up with the stress of the day, much less the preceding weekend.  I took my pills, found my blood pressure was not all that far off from normal, nor heart rate - weird.  And I thought on the conversation which preceded this - an utter and complete disconnect. I  still do not get it.  And this left me thinking of the concept of family and our need for family.

In 1Timothy 5:1-16, Paul lays out an argument for what is now considered to be a literal expression of correction in the church, church duties, etc.  But, is that really what Paul is talking about?

I do not think so, I think Paul is talking about family, God's family, your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, siblings, children - everyone in the Christian body, plays some family role in your life.  In short, we are the family of God and everyone in it is to matter to us personally!  I had a good friend from one culture where elders were all addressed as aunt and uncle!  It made me laugh to be called uncle!

It is easy to ignore most of those family members, they are far away.  Their deaths in a Kenya, at a shopping mall, or beheaded in Egypt or Syria have no impact on us we can see - and yet they do.  We are obviously not natural relatives to one another, but we are a blended family.  Much the same as in my early life, with brothers and a sister whom were blended with me by my father's many marriages.  Most of them I had known most of my life, so it was no real shocker, just needing to find ways to adjust and not fight with them!  And all of us, because we had known each other, found it easier to do this and at the same time have a level of respect for one another.  Yeah, there were still problems of one parent or the other taking the wrong side in an argument, based on genetics, but over all we managed.  Or in my own family of bringing four children together from different cultures and backgrounds, albeit all Russian, but mind you there were more than a few problems to deal with along that trail!

From Paul's outlook we are family and each is to be treated with respect, albeit differently based upon age, position, sex, etc.  Not unreasonable at all.  Except we live in a culture where age, sex and position is afforded no respect any longer.

When we see needs within our family, we are to meet them!  The most vulnerable within any family are the widows and the orphans - they have no one to care for their physical needs.  These are the ones we must care for.  Whether it is cash or labor, we are called to help them in their distress - and in this culture, no one exactly makes their needs known - probably because they see the needs left unfulfilled in others lives.

And I think on "Pastor Bob" in his call for everyone to send him $1,000 to guarantee their access in Heaven - and the multitudes of "believers" send their $1,000 to his ministry and let the widows and orphans they do know about - go in need.  Really?  My Bible seems to tell that ALL of our responsibilities are to these two groups.  It is not our place to judge them or question - it is to help.  Even I, as crippled as I am, can still mow grass or pick weeds or even cook a meal to help a family member in need.

Back in the early 1990's, in another church, in another town, we had an orphan girl whom would come to learn about God.  She walked about three miles to do so.  I also learned that her father had been killed in a drug war shootout.  Many would have nothing to do with her, she was after-all just white trash and no good would ever come of her.  Really?  This was the attitude of those in the church?  I made it overt, my helping her.  No there was little I could do: offer rides, an occasional meal, allow her to visit the house and just hang out.  It made a big difference in her life.  I probably could have done more but I still had lots to learn back then myself.  Had I of been smart I might have tried to adopt her, hindsight is always 20/20.  I still hear from her from time to time.  Just a little example of what you might want to become aware of in your church and do in the effort to care for others.

Here in America I have been stunned by how unwilling people are to help others!  If the cash does not go to the church, so that it is tax deductible, then no help will ever be possible!  Really?  God says take the tax deduction before helping others?  That is plain evil folks - and don't expect God's blessing in you or your church's life!

Mind you, we are to individually practice charity but there is a responsibility which goes along with that as well.  You are to know that your money or efforts are not going to waste.  Yeah, we are not to just pass along the dollars and let God figure it out!  There are lots of crazies out there.  They will spend your money on drugs, alcohol, porn, gambling, video games or even Starbucks!  So, you need to be watchful and know that money, if that is what you are giving, is going to be used wisely.  But, more importantly - you are to be responsible - not the church to be in your place!  By church I am referring to the organization doing any of the charity!  We are to take care of family, they are ours to care for - carefully, responsibly and individually.  And God will bless those efforts, because I know it will bring a reaction - one way or another.

Interestingly, back in the good old days of "Rome hates and kills Christians", there was a devastating flood in the Provence of Galatia, a chunk of today's Turkey.  The Christian churches sent people, supplies and money to help the devastated towns.  The Romans were in awe.  They did not even help each other, much less those opposed to their very existence!  It was a powerful witness at the time.

Yeah, we have floods and earthquakes, storms and destruction by nature and war.  I wonder if there are any opportunities in there for you to help others in your family right now?

*****

(as a side note: I have in the past mentioned people whom could use support.  Kim, an African missionary was one such whose work was supported by my readers.  And I have been waiting to identify another, a Mexican, whom is caring for orphans in his little town in Chihuahua - wracked by drug wars, on his meager earnings.  However, his area was devastated over the weekend by the flooding from twin typhoons which hit and then an earthquake!  He is not in good shape right now, more than a few broken bones (he is my age!) and no medical care is available to him.  His mother also sustained a broken arm.  Not sure as to property damage and it might be another week to even hear more from him.  So, I would ask that you join with me in prayer - for his healing, for his ministry, etc.  It is needed, easy to do and free to give!)