Families!



"Nuclear" Family

Family!  What is a family?  Family, familia (Latin); familie (Dutch); in any context, is a group of people that are affiliated by some affinity, or co-residence.  In the human race the family is the primary establishment for continuing the process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values, behaviors, and social skills that are necessary to his or her social position.  In other words, it is the primary “institution for the socialization of children.”  We say the socialization of children, because what we will become, we learn to be as children. 





God created the first family (husband and wife) and placed them in a home.  In that home, they were commanded to continue the process.  They were to so see to it that little Adams and little Eves filled their home and by extension, little Adams and Eves were to continue the process up to a thousand generations.  Each household that came out of the first should continue and build on, grow, build and teach.



Sadly, that nuclear family disintegrated into single-parent (one person); blended (couple with one or more children from a previous marriage) and gay families (people of the same gender having a “marriage.”)  With the amalgamation of the family unit in modern societies, how do we cope with the issues that present themselves?  How do we include everyone, without offending anyone?  How do we uphold the “nuclear” family without offending the “blended” family?  How do we serve the needs of the various types of families without being labeled “hate-mongers?” Should we support and serve the various family units without partiality; or should we just look about the needs of the families that are closely aligned to the “ideal” and forget about everyone else?


"Single" Father Family

These are questions that societies struggle to deal with on a daily basis, both inside and outside of the church. We do not have all the answers.  We do know, however, that these units, be it “nuclear,” “blended,” “single,” or “gay” make up homes, neighborhoods, communities, churches, villages, cities, and countries of the world.          




"Single" Mother Family

Fortunately, as a church community and large family, we are not left to blow in the wind. We have a Creator and Father who loves us all! He cares for all of us. He has no pleasure in some of the choices that we have made, but nonetheless, He is waiting to help us navigate the chaos that we have made for ourselves. He bids us, “do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa 41:10 NIV)

—Submitted by: Doreen Howson