Was reading Matthew 10:27 yesterday ...
It being a beautiful sunny morning, as I sat outside in front of my motel room enjoying a breakfast of oranges, bananas, 12 grain toast with butter and peach preserves, coffee, vegetarian sausage, and the Word, accompanied by the music of chirping and twittering birds (ok, ok! And the arguing of neighboring guests *wry grin*) I fell into a contemplative mood, and started wondering, "What is the UNIQUE message of Biblical Families?"
Yeah, I know. Best crowd on earth to hang with. Awesome retreats. Interesting forums. TRULY caring and praying folks. But what is unique about our MESSAGE?
Naturally, I jotted notes. :lol:
Is it that PM is moral and allowable? Nope. Mormon, Islam, Hinduism, African and other tribalism ... some 83% of world cultures...
How about Sola Scriptura -- sticking to the Bible ONLY? Nope -- most churches claim that, inccluding the one that disfellowshipped YOU over PM.
Is it the emphasis on Family? That, too, is found in every enduring culture.
Well, how about Patriarchy? Godly order? Chain of Authority = God -> Jesus -> Husbands -> Wives -> children (until they grow up and establish their own homes)? A relatively common teaching nowadays -- however well or poorly done.
How about "God holds MEN primarily responsible for the spiritual health of their families -- they are called to lead"? Nope Promise Keepers has beein doing that well for a long time.
God loves men and has made provision for them in every area of their lives, health, wealth, and relationships? Everyone seems to teach that, and Joel Osteen is making a mint off doing so.
God loves His daughters, too? Sets 'em free? Wants 'em to prosper and be happy? T D Jakes is doing quite a job of that one.
So what's left? Is it ONLY that we seem to be putting all of the above into a pretty balanced mix? Granting that we seem to do so, I came up with one aspect that seems unique to us, or at least to the Christian PM movement:
God has made mate/family provision for ALL His daughters.
That it requires a different mindset and commitment than the current unsuccessful societal model is neither surprising nor of particular significance. It is a true statement, nonetheless, and does NOT require some sort of breaching of the original mandate that it is NOT GOOD for mankind to be alone.
That's it. My bright idea. All y'alls can now correct it. And it was a WONDERFUL breakfast. Think I'll go do it again!
... and realized that I was looking at a command of Jesus, who definitely said, "If you love Me, keep (continually DO) My commandments."
It being a beautiful sunny morning, as I sat outside in front of my motel room enjoying a breakfast of oranges, bananas, 12 grain toast with butter and peach preserves, coffee, vegetarian sausage, and the Word, accompanied by the music of chirping and twittering birds (ok, ok! And the arguing of neighboring guests *wry grin*) I fell into a contemplative mood, and started wondering, "What is the UNIQUE message of Biblical Families?"
Yeah, I know. Best crowd on earth to hang with. Awesome retreats. Interesting forums. TRULY caring and praying folks. But what is unique about our MESSAGE?
Naturally, I jotted notes. :lol:
Is it that PM is moral and allowable? Nope. Mormon, Islam, Hinduism, African and other tribalism ... some 83% of world cultures...
How about Sola Scriptura -- sticking to the Bible ONLY? Nope -- most churches claim that, inccluding the one that disfellowshipped YOU over PM.
Is it the emphasis on Family? That, too, is found in every enduring culture.
Well, how about Patriarchy? Godly order? Chain of Authority = God -> Jesus -> Husbands -> Wives -> children (until they grow up and establish their own homes)? A relatively common teaching nowadays -- however well or poorly done.
How about "God holds MEN primarily responsible for the spiritual health of their families -- they are called to lead"? Nope Promise Keepers has beein doing that well for a long time.
God loves men and has made provision for them in every area of their lives, health, wealth, and relationships? Everyone seems to teach that, and Joel Osteen is making a mint off doing so.
God loves His daughters, too? Sets 'em free? Wants 'em to prosper and be happy? T D Jakes is doing quite a job of that one.
So what's left? Is it ONLY that we seem to be putting all of the above into a pretty balanced mix? Granting that we seem to do so, I came up with one aspect that seems unique to us, or at least to the Christian PM movement:
God has made mate/family provision for ALL His daughters.
That it requires a different mindset and commitment than the current unsuccessful societal model is neither surprising nor of particular significance. It is a true statement, nonetheless, and does NOT require some sort of breaching of the original mandate that it is NOT GOOD for mankind to be alone.
That's it. My bright idea. All y'alls can now correct it. And it was a WONDERFUL breakfast. Think I'll go do it again!
