The Family I’ve Always wanted Part 3: God’s Interdependent Family

"You hold me in your heart."

"I hold you in my heart" (The Apostle Paul, Philippians 1:7)

Introduction

It originally was not my intention to have The Family I've I Always Wanted blog be a series, but it has turned into one. I could not help but be reminded of how God's family is suppose to relate to God and to each other when reading Philippians, especially chapter 1:3-11. In this opening chapter, one should see an interdependent family and church. God's family is to depend on one another, as they depend on the One who began a good work in them and will complete it on the day of Jesus Christ. So the point of this blog is to show that God's family is to be interdependent, as they depend on God. This blog will first look at the opening chapter of Philippians to show God's family can only begin to be interdependent as they rely on Jesus Christ. Second, this blog will look at Philippians to show that God's interdependent family should allow God's love and compassion to not only be an example but also should allow it to flow out of them toward one another. Lastly, this blog will look at two contemporary examples that show glimpses that God's family is doing this today.

The Source of Our Interdependence

First, God's family can only begin to be interdependent as they rely on Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul understood the Church in Philippi's partnership and interdependence to him in light of the work Christ began in them and will complete in them. The Apostle affirms, "the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Paul loved this church and prayed for them with great joy. He saw them not merely as recipients of his ministry, but as partners in the gospel. However, he understood this to be true because it was Christ who ultimately began the work in them and not himself. This of course, is true of Paul as well. Paul understood his love only in light of "the compassion of Christ Jesus" (v. 8). The church in Philippi and Paul were to be more than merely recipients of God's work and love. They were to be more.

God's Interdependent Family

Second, God's interdependent family should allow God's love and compassion to not only be an example but also they should allow it to flow out of them toward one another. In Philippians 1:7, there is a difference in translations. One translation translates the verse "You hold me in your heart" (NRSV), while others translate it "I hold you in my heart" (ESV, NASB). The first refers to the Philippians holding Paul in their hearts and the other refers to Paul holding them in his heart. The purpose of this blog is not to get into a technical debate about translations issues. However, either could be true here. There is little doubt of the mutual love and affection they both had for each other. This love they both had for each other was from Christ. Paul declares, "For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus" (v. 8). This love Paul had for the Philippians lead him to constantly pray for them (v. 4; 9-11). The church today can at times fall short in this area but there are also glimpses of God's interdependent family even today.

Two Examples

There are today glimpses of God's interdependent family. In my last blog Living within a Story I brought up a prayer meeting that I attended to pray for a dear family, who were and still are going through some real hardships. This without is a great example that displays interdependence and partnership. People there came together and should dependence on each other, as they looked to the One they were completely dependent on. Interdependence and partnership does not merely mean partnering in the benefits of God's grace, but it includes real hardships. Being God's interdependent family means loving one another with the compassion of Christ Jesus and thus displaying to the world the love of Christ.

It is hard not to think of Haiti, when thinking of an example of global interdependence. It is truly amazing to see people respond to the tragedy in Haiti. It show that God's love and compassion, shines through, even outside of his family. However, God's family is also partnering in the relief efforts. Churches like the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (ICFG) have been in Haiti for several years and are currently active in seeing relief and help come to Haiti (See link http://tiny.cc/DoXDK). They along with other churches are good global examples of God's interdependent family that hold one another in each others hearts,

Conclusion

In a world with joy, blessing, as well as , pain and hardships, we need a family that looks to and depends on the compassion of Christ and thus can be dependent on each other. Christ love is not only a model for us but it is our source for showing love and compassion to each other and the world. We can do this personally through praying for each other and being present in each other lives. We can do this globally as we look for ways to contribute toward tragedies like the one in Haiti. Let's be God's interdependent family.

And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Thanks for reading,

Marcelino

 

 

 

 

Living within a Story

Many people today are looking for a story that can give their life meaning. This story gives people a context for the way they live their lives. The everyday things people do must have meaning within a bigger story. Even the big things, whether tragic or good, which happen to them must have some meaning within a bigger story. Whether they realize it or not, they are looking to continue or live within a story that began long before they were even born and will continue when they pass on. There are many stories that one could think of and this blog will touch on five. The first is the story of the independence of the United States and how this story has shaped the actions of the country ever since. The second is the story of Santa Claus and how this story has shaped the actions of children and adults. The third is the story of the Great Depression and how this has shaped the actions of subsequent generations. The fourth is the story the Apostle Paul lived within and how this story shaped how he interpreted the Old Testament and how he lived his life. The fifth story is the story of the birth of Jesus Christ and how Matthew, who wrote the Gospel of according to Matthew, believed Jesus lived within the ancient story of Israel. This will be a very brief survey but it will illustrate how stories young and old give people meaning and a context for how they live their lives. Finally, this blog will concluded that God’s people live within a story of redemption and restoration. This story is not to be merely enjoyed by its benefactors, but embodied by the people it has called to be God’s bringers of redemption and restoration. God’s people doing God’s work is the next chapter of God’s great story of redemption.

The story of independence of the United States has given Americans meaning for generations. Many people fought and died for this country’s independence. This is not just any country but it is a country that values freedom. People are free to worship and free to speak their mind. When these freedoms are threatened in anyway, many Americans will not stand for threats on their freedom. They fight for and stand up for their freedom because of the story that they are living within. They are living within the story of the United States of America. The story is yet completed, but many Americans want to make sure it continues well past their death. For Americans the story is not merely to enjoy but to participate in story of the country of the United States and the things it stands for.

The story of Santa Claus and how he lives at the North Pole and delivers gifts to children in a sleigh pulled by reindeer has for generations given children meaning in their lives. Seeing children light up when they see Santa is a special thing to witness, if they are not scared of him. There may be some debate on the kind of actions the story of Santa invokes but the story itself is to invoke positive actions of children. Santa brings gifts to children that are good. Santa knows if you’ve been bad or good, so goes the song, so be good for goodness sake. Also the story is to invoke Christmas cheer and the spirit of giving. This is not always the case, but that is the hope of this story.

The story of the Great Depression has shaped the actions of subsequent generations. The parents who lived through this era would tell their children, “We had it hard and survived by the grace of God and hard work.”[1] This would lead them to say, “You need to work hard to overcome obstacles too instead of spending your time complaining about your hard luck.”[2] The story taught them about how they were to live when faced with adversity. Stassen and Gushee conclude that “Narratives teach Morality.”[3] This story helped shaped those who followed it.

The apostle Paul lived within the story of the redemption of Israel and this shaped how he lived and taught. In the seven undisputed Pauline letters (some scholars are unsure if Paul wrote all of the letters usually ascribed to him), Isaiah is mentioned 31 times.[4] There are also 50 allusions, according to the 27^th Edition of the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament, to Isaiah in the seven undisputed letters. Also 21 of them are in Isaiah 49-55.[5] Richard Hays notes, “Isaiah, more clearly than any other Old Testament book, links the promise of redemption and restoration of Israel to the hope that Israel’s God will also reveal his mercy to the Gentiles and establish sovereignty over the whole earth.”[6] I wrote a whole paper on how Isaiah and specifically Isaiah 40-55 shaped Paul’s thinking when he wrote 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2. I will not bore you any longer with the details of that paper. To very simply put it, God is moving to redeem and restore both Israel and the other nations and this is seen in Isaiah 40-55 and the dramatic narrative reaches its height in chapter 49. God’s original plan to redeem and restore Israel and the nations will still be accomplished in spite of a rebellious people. God would do this through his Servant. Paul lived this story and understood Jesus as the coming of the Servant and the one who will bring about God’s salvation to the world. “Thus says the Lord: In a time of favor I have answered you, on a day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people” (Isaiah 49:8). Paul lived, believed and taught that the day of salvation had come.

The next story is the story of birth of Jesus Christ and how Matthew, who wrote the Gospel of according to Matthew, believed Jesus lived within and fulfilled the ancient story of Israel. The prophet Hosea says, "Out of Eygpt I've called my son." What was Matthew thinking when quoting this in his gospel? Was he just grabbing scripture out of context and proving that Jesus is fulfilling scripture in some weird way? No. God called Abraham's family out of Egypt but they failed in their task to be a light and a blessing. They were God’s “son” called out to be a blessing. So their Representative, the Messiah, became what they were unable to be, that is, God’s son. Jesus was called out of Egypt to be God's son. He was to be a true Israelite. Jesus lived within the story of Israel and actually fulfilled it. This is a nice story of what Christ has done be doing what we are unable to do, but there is more. Jesus paved the way of being God’s son so that we can finally begin to be God’s children and do God’s will.

So with these stories we can see how people live within a story of some sort. Some stories mean more than others. Some stories can be fun. Some can be destructive. This blog has illustrated how stories young and old give people meaning and a context for how they live their lives. God’s people live within a story of redemption and restoration. Paul lived within a story of God redeeming and restoring Israel and all nations. Paul saw Jesus and his ministry as embodying God’s restoring love to the world. Jesus also lived within the story of Israel not being capable to truly be God’s son. Jesus was the one who brought the story to completion only to give his followers the next chapter. God’s story is not to be merely enjoyed by its benefactors, but embodied by the people it has called to be God’s bringers of redemption and restoration.

A Few More Thoughts

I was at a prayer meeting the other evening to pray for a dear family, who are going through some real hardships at the moment. In reflecting on that evening, I realized, among other things, that we are living within the story of God’s family. This is the “next chapter” that Jesus made for those who are empowered by God’s Spirit. As those in the book of the Acts of the Apostle prayed for one another and comforted one another, so we too continue in prayer and comfort of one another. We are living in God’s great story of redemption and restoration. We live it every day as we grow together as God’s family.

Thanks for reading,

Marcelino

---

[1] Glen H.; Gushee Stassen, David P., Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context(Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 117.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Richard B. Hays, Conversion of the Imagination: Paul as Interpreter of Israel's Scripture(Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2005), 25.

[5] Ibid., 26.

[6] Ibid.

What Happens When the Family I've Always Wanted is Not What I Expected?

The Forgiving Family of God

The Family I Have Always Wanted Part 2

In my last blog I discussed how looking at the examples of Abraham’s family, my family, and the church shows how God can and will give us the family we have always wanted. Some of us have suffered loss. Some of us have been hurt. Some of us struggle with depression. Some of us struggle with loneliness. The list goes on but God’s family includes all of us, if we believe in Christ. We have a place in God’s family. This is quite a remarkable truth. However, there is another side to this story that should be addressed. Let me tell you about my family, that is, the family I’ve always wanted. They are adulterers, fornicators, murderers, thieves, robbers, and the list goes on. They are a selfish, slothful, and lazy family. Is this really the family I’ve always wanted? For every good thing or good person in God’s family, there is a bad thing or bad person in it. Why would anyone want to be a part of this family? In an earlier blog I asked the question, “Where is God?” God has made a new family made of all people. God is present in his people making them into a new humanity and a new family. So God’s family, the family I have always wanted, is “a dwelling place for God by the Spirit,” as the Apostle Paul has declared. How can this be, given what is at times characteristic of this family? What happens when the family I’ve always wanted is not what I expected? I should practice forgiveness. We should practice forgiveness. God’s family embodies the dwelling place of God and represents God by being a forgiving family. When God’s family lives a life that practices forgiveness, as Christ has forgiven them, they echo God’s forgiveness to the world. God’s family forgives first and foremost because God has forgiven them and has reconciled them to himself through his son. God loved them and forgave them, so they in turn are to love similarly to others. Therefore, God’s family seeks to offer forgiveness and reconciliation to others. There is no limit to the amount God’s family seeks to offer forgiveness, since they are to imitate and echo the forgiveness of God. Truly being God’s family means learning how to forgive and learning how to be to others all the things God is to them.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

God’s family forgives first and foremost because of what God did in Christ to forgive and reconcile us to God. The apostle Paul affirmed this of God, “Now all things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, God was reconciling the world through Christ to himself, not counting their trespasses against them and having established in us the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18-19). Here Paul affirms that God has reconciled us to himself. Reconciliation simply means “to reestablish proper friendly interpersonal relations after these have been disrupted or broken.”[1] Paul does not preface here that only certain trespasses or wrongdoings apply. God in Christ does not count any wrongdoing of those whom God has reconciled through his son. What great news for those who believe. Humanity does not deserve forgiveness and reconciliation but God does offer humanity this, as a gift.

God first loved humanity so that they in turn can love him and love others. John affirms this in his letter, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a means of forgiveness for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Here it is plain to see that God’s love is clearly linked to his forgiveness. God loves humanity and thus offers forgiveness to them. But John does not leave it there. He encourages, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). What happens when the family "we’ve" always wanted is not what "we" expected? They practice love that encompasses forgiveness.

God’s family is also to be a people that seek reconciliation. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount quotes from the Old Testament declaring, “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment” (Matt. 5:21). He continues by taking this a step further and declaring, “If you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matt. 5:22). This is quite a statement that almost makes his command seem impossible. However, Jesus offers a solution to anger and when anger is full blown, its desire to murder. Jesus gives an example when someone would go to the temple and give their gift to the altar. If they remembered that their brother or sister has something against them, they should leave their gift at the altar and first seek reconciliation with that person. Lastly, Jesus gives one more example of a lawsuit. Jesus says, “Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him or her, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison” (Matt. 5:25). Jesus is strongly emphasizing that to first be reconciled and to quickly come to terms with your accuser. This is a practical way that God’s family can practice forgiveness and seek reconciliation and thus break the cycle of anger, resentment, and murder.

God’s family is to offer forgiveness limitlessly. One of Jesus disciples named Peter asked Jesus a question about the limits of forgiveness. Peter asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times” (Matt. 18:21)? Jesus responds, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matt. 18:22). Some have said that seventy-seven times is not enough. This can be true, but Jesus was making the point to never hold something against another. This should not be limited.

Forgiveness in Practice

Miroslav Volf in his book Free of Charge tells a tragic story of his older brother that unfortunately he never got to know. His brother Daniel was five and Miroslav was only one. The two brothers were being watched by their long time nanny, aunt Milica. When aunt Milica was not looking, Daniel slipped through a large gate that was in the courtyard of the apartment complex. Daniel went to a small military base that was near their home. There were some soldiers who were in training and saw the boy. They were bored and in need of some entertainment. So they began to have some fun with Daniel. This is where the story begins to turn for the worst.

On that fateful day in 1957, one of them put him on a horse-drawn bread wagon. As they were passing through the gate on a bumpy cobblestone road, Daniel leaned sideways and his head got stuck between the door post and the wagon. The horses kept going. He died on the way to hospital – a son lost to parents who adored him, and an older brother that I would never know.[2]

What a tragic story for their family to have to go through. Miroslav figured out over the years that it was his long time nanny that was responsible for watching both of them. Someone has to take the blame for this, Miroslav thought. “When terrible things happen, people find someone to blame even when there’s no one to blame.”[3] But Miroslav’s mother did not tell him about aunt Milica’s being partly responsible to their family tragedy. Why? She had forgiven her. This was very difficult but she did. His mother now had a new understanding for the price God paid by send his one and only son to die for the sins of the world. “Aunt Milica was forgiven, and there was no more talk of her guilt, not even talk of her having been guilty.”[4] This is the hope of forgiveness. That is, to forgive, in such a way, that even the thought of a past offense is far from one’s mind. This is how God forgives humanity.

There is one more part to this story, and that is the part of the soldier. He was the one primarily responsible for Daniel’s tragic death. He took it so hard that he had to be hospitalized. Miroslav’s father did a very difficult and painful thing. He went to visit the soldier in the hospital to comfort and console him. He also let him know that that he and his wife had forgiven him. Miroslav’s parents went to court and said they would not press charges on the young man. They did not want to see another mother’s son’s life be wasted, because of a very careless decision. The soldier was discharged from the army and he went home unpunished. After this, Miroslav’s dad went to the home of the former soldier. Why did he go? Miroslav explains, “He was concerned for the soldier and wanted to talk to him once more of God’s love, which is greater than our accusing hearts, and of my parent’s forgiveness.”[5]

Resentment and Unforgiving

The New York Daily News reported this morning that a teen and her mother are suing her softball coach and are suing the city, claiming she busted her ankle because her high school coach never taught her how to slide.[6] She has not been able to play since her injury. Her mother and her demand justice. She said that the coach did not supersize the sliding. The coach delegated that to team veteran players to teach the younger players. The case is still pending at the moment.

Still My Family

Now based on the above, is this an appropriate response to take? Here are two examples of what people can do in response to a tragedy. One is of course considerably less tragic than the other, yet the one that is less tragic is seeking more in return. When God’s family lives a life that practices forgiveness, as Christ has forgiven them, they echo God’s forgiveness to the world. We are to be to others what God has been to us. Bitterness and resentment has no place in God’s family. This is still the family I have always wanted, because this family is the forgiving family of God that shows forgiveness to the world. The apostle Paul puts its well "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1). Let us all imitate Christ in how he forgives others.

A Few More Thoughts

I could say a lot more about forgiveness. The book I just completed reading is 240 pages long or so on the subject. Feel free to ask some clarifying questions. I would just add here, that a lot of times complete forgiveness does not always happen. There are many contributing factors to this. Sometimes the offender is a danger to themselves or to others. Sometimes the offender does not think they have offended anyone. But the hope still remains for complete forgiveness, because Christ forgave us. In God’s new world we will have complete forgiveness and reconciliation with one another. This is what forgiveness in today’s world points to and looks forward to.

Thanks for reading,

Marcelino

---

[1] Johannes P.; Nida Louw, Eugene Albert Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains, 2nd ed., vol. 1 (New York: United Bible Society, 1996), 501.

[2] Miroslav Volf, Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2005), 121.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid., 122.

[5] Ibid., 123.

[6] See full article http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2009/12/16/2009-12-16_teen_plays_hardball_sues_city_hs_softball_coach_after_breaking_ankle_in_slide.html

The Family I Have Always Wanted

Many people desire to be in a family or to belong to a community. This is a value because these people are given a sense of worth. They contribute to this family and the family in turn contributes to them. So, for many this is deep desire to want to be in a family. God has given us a family. God has given us his family. This is, “the family I have always wanted.” I am reminded of Abraham and how his family started. I am also reminded of my own family and the loss that we suffered. I am lastly reminded of the church, who is God’s family. Looking at these three examples of family will show us how God can and will give of the family we have always wanted.

Abraham was nearing one-hundred years old and he and his wife Sarah were with out a child to continue their family. This was especially important in those days. At was during this time that God spoke to Abraham saying:

I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God" (Genesis 17:5c-8).

What was Abraham’s response? Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety” (17:17)? Even though Abraham at first laughed at the idea, God still kept his promise to give Abraham not only a son (Isaac) but a great family. God promised to bless his family. Unexpectedly Abraham received “the family he always wanted.” This family was going to be God’s family. They would call the LORD God their God.

Since I can remember, I have had the desire to belong to a family. As a young child, my mom was sick and unable to care for me in the way that she wanted. She passed away of complications from diabetes, when I was 12 years old. My dad moved away after this and I lived with my grandparents. I was grateful for them but my family was somewhat incomplete. I felt this even more when my grandfather passed away later that same year. Was there a family out there that could give me a sense of worth? Was there a family out there that could comfort me? Was there a family out there that could be the family I always wanted? Thank God for his family!

In the New Testament the Apostle Paul talks about the family of Abraham. Paul says, “So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the Law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe” (Romans 4:16). So we are included in Abraham’s family if we believe! It is a free gift! The promise of an everlasting covenant, the promise of blessing Israel and Israel being a blessing, and the promise of being in God’s family is for all who believe! We a part of God’s family. This is a family I want to be a part of. This is the family I have always wanted.

I very much desired to be a part of something greater than myself but at the same time provided me a place to belong. Many of us may feel the same way. We have suffered loss. We have been hurt. We struggle with depression. We struggle with loneliness. The list goes on but remember that God’s family includes you, if you believe in Christ. It is an unexpected family but it is the family I have always wanted!

Thanks for reading,

Marcelino

Where is God?

"In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
The Apostle Paul

Where is God? I often ask this question when things are not going well in my life. When I have felt alone or scared, I ask this question. Many of Psalms in the Old Testament ask this question, as well. The Psalmist new that YHWH (the God of Israel) dwelt in their temple, though his presence was not limited to it. This question is not a new question for God's people and humanity in general. The Apostle Paul gives the answer to this question in his letter to the Ephesians. Where is God? Where his people are at! What a truly shocking claim to make. God is making his people (both Jews and non-Jews) in to a dwelling place for God. This new family of God is where God is present! God is in their midst.

This past summer, I went to see "the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" with some very good friends. It was very hot that day. Probably over 100 degrees. They had giant fans with water misters to keep us somewhat cool. The time came for us finally to go inside the studio. We had been waiting for hours to get inside the air-conditioning and of course to see Conan. When the taping finally began, the energy picked up in the audience. Then when Conan came out the place erupted with ovation for this very funny man. It was somewhat hard to believe that we were in the same room as Conan O'Brien. What excitement! Seeing my friends, who are bigger fans than I am of Conan, with so much excitement and joy on their faces was fun to see. I saw how people can get rather fanatical when they are near a celebrity. It was pretty cool and a great experience. It was well worth waiting in 100 degree heat. Being in the same room as Conan is rather noticeable and exciting but do we notice that God is also in the same room as his people?

God is not only in the same room as us but God is present within his people. God has made a new family made of all people. What if we notice that God is present in his family the way we notice when a celebrity is near us? What if God's people were consciously aware of his presence. Where is God? Where is God present? God is present in his people making them into a new humanity and a new family.

Thanks for reading,

Marcelino

What Is Hell Like? Does It Even Exist?

Very interesting video by N. T. Wright about Hell and its existence. Perhaps we in the west (Protestant and Catholic) have gotten this wrong. Should we take some of the descriptions of Hell as literal descriptions of a literal place? Or do these descriptions point to something else that is happening to humans that chose not to reflect the image of their Creator? N. T. Wright gives us yet another perspective on things in this video.

Debate on Homosexuality. How to begin to have the debate..

N. T Wright in this video helps to frame the debate so that those who are apart of it can begin to have a healthy discussion about it.