“Our once great western Christian civilization is dying. If this matters to followers of Jesus Christ, then we must set aside our denominational differences and work together to strengthen the things that remain and reclaim what has been lost. Evangelicals and Catholics must stand together to re-establish that former Christian culture and moral consensus. We have the numbers and the organization but the question is this: Do we have the will to win this present spiritual battle for Jesus Christ against secularism? Will we prayerfully and cooperatively work toward a new Christian spiritual revival ― or will we choose to hunker down in our churches and denominationalisms and watch everything sink into the spiritual and moral abyss of a New Dark Age?” - Mark Davis Pickup

Thursday, May 8, 2014

FAMILY: SOURCE OF PRIMARY NURTURE AND UNDERSTANDING INTERDEPENDENT COMMUNITY

"Children's children are a crown to the aged, 
and parents are the pride of their children." 
(Proverbs 17.6)

I suppose readers of this blog (well over 280,000 hits now) might think it extravagant of me to feature my family in a blog about Christian perspectives on suffering. (See previous posting.) You're right, it is extravagant. Forgive me.
My family brings me such joy. My legs are crippled but my heart soars. It thrills me to see my children and grandchildren reaching toward their potential. My wife of 40 years and our family are my earthly heritage: My heavenly heritage waits for me.

"I my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with we that you may be where I am." -- Jesus (John 14.2-3)
After more than thirty years of chronic illness, I am now convinced that love (human and divine) is all that matters. Health and wealth, position and status will all disappear, only love and the soul will cross the grave's threshold.

As a husband, father and grandfather, my role is to nurture and encourage my family to be their best under the Lordship and leadership of Jesus Christ. It is in these roles that I feel  most at home. Next as a citizen, I must help nurture and encourage a community of concern and nurture in which every human being is helped to reach their full potential and blossom in the love of God.
We must reject the fashionable thinking of independent personal autonomy. It is diametrically opposed to the ideal of interdependent community -- which has its roots in the family. It is in the family where we are first introduced, as small children, to interdependence. When it works well, a family serves as a microcosm, a model of functioning, nurturing, interdependent community in miniature. And the glue of a family should be love. The glue of community is interdependence and loving kindness.

I have been given so much love in this life (both human and divine). Under such love human beings can soar -- even with legs that are crippled like mine.

[Click on image or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nQy-aP_Koo, for Brandon Heath's "Love Never Fails".
Mark 
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)