There are lot of statements from teenagers when asked what is family is about.

Some teenager said that there is no such thing as normal family. They says, that there is no clear definition because everyone does something different. In addition they said that different is ok and a lot of times different is better.

Other teenager said, it is hard to define family since both parents often working if they are still together, and their kids at home alone or in daycare center, and besides there are few family times during mealtime. They concluded that family means both parents and their children coming together and being with each other.

Which is the better view toward family?

I- THEOLOGICAL VIEW OF THE FAMILY IN THE BIBLE

A. The First Family was given Mandate by God

• The Family itself was not the purpose of the mandate but a means for God’s purpose.

According to Ward, “Families are the temporary means by which God is bringing about that larger purpose [of spreading the glory and knowledge of God through the earth].” [Ward, 225]

B. The First Family was twisted by the fall.

The barriers in the fellowship of the first parents were imposed that leads to shame and coverings.

The first family reared the first son in trouble. We read that Abel did well but Cain did not do well in Genesis 4:4-7. Because of Jealousy, Cain slew his brother Abel.

However, here comes the family of Seth because God will see to it that there will always be true family of God in the history of mankind. (Genesis 4:26)

C. The Conflict of Two Families. (The People of God and the sons of Cain)

The opposing of the people of God against the sons of Cain continue up to the time of Noah and when God judged the line of Cain—Genesis 5 and next chapters.

D. The Rebellion of the sons of Noah

In the midst of the Rebellion of the Sons of Noah toward God, God is gracious and good that He preserves one family line from all the nations of the earth that is Abraham.

The descendants of Abraham are the God’s sons and daughters in Exodus 4:22, Isaiah 43:6, etc. However, not all Israel was true Israel according to Romans 9:6-7. The plan of God for the nation of Israel was not limited to Israel as God promised in Genesis 12:3 “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

E. God blessed the world through Abraham seed Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ the seed of Abraham is the one who made the true family that blessed the world.

Mark 3:31- 35 “There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

³² And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. ³³And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? ³⁴ And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! ³⁵ For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.” (KJV)

F. The Family of God visible expression is the Church

The church is called the household of God in 1 Timothy 3:15 “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

In the church we have “brothers” and “sisters” according to 1 Corinthians 4:14-15 “I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. ¹⁵ For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”

We have also in the church father and children relationship in 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 11 “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: ¹¹ As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,”

We can see in the church the father, brothers, mothers and sisters as family of God in 1 Timothy 5:1-2 “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; ² The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.”

• Therefore, the church is God redeeming marriage as true family

II- THE WITNESS OF THE TRUE FAMILY CONCEPT

A. The people of God must have a true fellowship as a Family in the church.

The world should witness the sweet fellowship of the believers like a family in the church.

B. The parents must leads, guides and nurtures their children in Christian homes.

Parents should be responsible to teach their children to become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The world should see children in their homes being obedient to the faithful leadership of their parents.

• Both homes and churches should be a witness to the world of redeemed relationships.

Conclusion:

Read what God hath said about family in Malachi 4:5-6 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: ⁶ And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” 

Ward the author said “How can families know this blessing while we await the final redemption? Through repentance and faith. If the other people in your family won’t repent and believe, seek God’s grace and do it yourself anyway. Pray that the Lord would bring a taste of the new earth to your own family.” [Ward, 229]