Jesus vs. Family
One of the teachings of Jesus that is often just quickly passed over has to do with family. In Matthew 10:34-37, Jesus stated:
Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Often, when we read those words, we might make a quick application about initially becoming a Christian. When someone decides to follow Jesus, others in his or her family may not like it. Maybe that person is coming out of a denomination. Maybe they are leaving atheism. Maybe they are setting aside Islam or Hinduism. To do so, they know their family not only will be upset, but may even disown them.
However, there is more to applying this passage than just the initial decision to follow Jesus, and it shows up constantly in the lives of already-faithful Christians.
It is when a family member decides to choose a sinful path for his or her life. Will Jesus or family win out?
For example, how will that Christian act…
…when a beloved cousin decides to “come out” as homosexual?
…when a tween child is questions his or her gender identity and is saying on social media that he or she is now a “they”?
…when a grown child commits adultery and now is “finding happiness” in getting a new spouse, clearly violating Matthew 19:9?
…when a parent who used to teach Bible class now rarely goes to worship and wants to stay home when you visit for holidays?
We could go on, but you get the point. We love these people. Dearly. Deeply.
But now, their decisions have put them at odds with the Lord and you have a decision to make. Who will win? Will your devotion to the Lord be strong enough to stand for what is right and have less to do with this person–and maybe, eventually, nothing at all? Or will the fact that they are “blood” cause you to excuse, overlook, and maybe even grudgingly accept their sinful lifestyle?
It isn’t easy. In our society, it can make you look like the “bad guy.” You will be ostracized and, of course, your heart will ache almost endlessly.
But Jesus must be first. Always. Even above family.
Only then is He truly Lord.
AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
