“Let us make one point, that
we meet each other with a smile, when it is difficult to smile. Smile at each
other, make time for each other in your family.” Just as Mother Teresa does, many other people
have attempted to discuss one of the most controversial topics – family. Some believe that family is just an
individual’s immediate family. While
others believe family is not only an individual’s immediate family, but
friends. Yet even others believe that
the definition of family is much broader in the sense that it is everyone
within the world. Family plays such an
important role in an individual’s worldview it is fairly easy to see why it is
such an interesting topic. Through
family an individual may experience jealousy, hatred, love, selfishness,
charity, friendship, admiration, peace, violence, abuse and more. Family is one of the most complicated
arrangements ever introduced to humanity.
It is through this family arena that an individual is developed and
introduced into the world.
The definition of family is
often viewed as general and varying depending on the person. With the utilization of family many have
attempted to address some of the social problems within society. William Shakespeare often centered his dramas
on different families. Whether it was
two families at war with one another in Romeo and Juliet or the internal
struggle of a prominent family in King Lear, Shakespeare always seemed
to emphasize family to reveal the faults within individuals and society. Furthermore, the pioneer of psychology,
Sigmund Freud even suggested that family was the cause of many mental illnesses. Freud believed that through repression of
instinctual behavior the individual would damage his conscious with guilt. Freud’s key instinctual behavior was
introduced as the Oedipus complex or Electra complex. This complex was where a child had sexual
feelings for the parent of the opposite sex and hostility or jealousy of the
same sex parent. If an individual did
not deal with these feelings properly he or she may be mentally scarred for
life.
Even though many prominent secular
figures have tackled the issue of family, one of the first places family was
introduced was in the Bible. With
stories like Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau or Joseph and his brothers, the
negative aspect of family is well represented.
One can obviously perceive how family can become overbearing or
detrimental to an individual’s life. The
Bible also displays positive families, such as Ruth and Naomi or Priscilla and
Aquila. Nevertheless, Jesus comes along
and transforms the entire perception of family.
Even though, Jesus’ ancestry was a fulfillment of the prophecies,
through Jesus’ ministry the idea of family would never be the same. “While He yet talked to the people, behold,
His mother and His brethren stood outside, desiring to speak with Him. Then one said unto Him, ‘Behold, thy mother
and thy brethren stand outside, desiring to speak with thee.’ But He answered and said unto him that told
Him, ‘Who is My mother? And who are My brethren?’ And He stretched forth His hand toward His
disciples and said, ‘Behold, My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of My Father
who is in Heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother (Matthew
12:46-50).’” Traditionally, the Jews
were a very family oriented group of people, from the twelve tribes to Jesus’
age the importance of family was stressed.
It is within this statement, that Jesus introduces a revolutionary
definition of family to the Jews. A
family is not just a group of people within the same bloodline, but anyone who
submits to the will of God.
Years have passed and the definition and
role of family still remains controversial. As a society, we are now dealing
with a new view of family that is often plagued by divorces, absent parents,
half-siblings, step-parents and so much more. As a product of unwed parents
& an unwed father of a child, I now face the challenge to instill in my
children the meaning of family. But what can I tell them? How can I define
family? Can I heal the mistakes of the past? The interesting thing is that even
though the outlook of family constantly changes, Jesus’ view of family can and
will heal and restore families. If we began to love & care for each other,
as we love & care for ourselves we will begin to have a Godly family
experience. And that experience will not only change our lives, but our community,
our city, our state, our country and our world.
“But Ruth said, Do not urge me to leave
you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you
lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where
you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to
me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” Ruth 1:16–17 (ESV)
