All in the Family

Taking the Long Perspective

I. The Family Is the Platform for Society

A. Humanity has a common origin in Adam and Eve; consequently all social order begins in the Garden of Eden. “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” (Genesis 3:20)

B. The standard for family and social life was vividly displayed in Abraham. “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” (Genesis 18:19)

C. Long life derives from faithfulness and respect within the family context. “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12)

D. What begins in families stretches out across humanity in its various categories and distributions; nations and civilizations replicate and reflect families. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:3-6)

II. Family Terms Apply Across the Cultural Spectrum

A. God terms government officials fathers and mothers. “And his servants came near, and spake unto [Naaman], and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?” (2 Kings 5:13) “And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.” (Isaiah 49:23)

B. God approved the term for religious leaders with the example of Elisha who called his prophetic mentor, Elijah, his father. “And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.” (2 Kings 2:12-14)

III. Family Relationships Interpret Other Relationships

A. People first learn and teach relationships with superiors, inferiors, and equals in the family. “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (Ephesians 5:21) “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.” (1 Peter 2:17) “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” (Romans 12:10)

B. People in authority should use their power with the same loving attitude God first demonstrated to them. “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

C. Authority must be used for the benefit of those in various subordinate positions; Paul was applying family rules to church discipline. “Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” (2 Corinthians 12:14)

D. Paul applied family terminology to those God used him to lead to grace. “I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.” (1 Corinthians 4:14-16)