My Bible Blog

Blood:

I know this chapter appears to have an odd title for a Christian book, but I do not mean blood as in war or murder or whatever comes to mind when you think of blood. Instead, I am talking about DNA and genetic relationships. 

I have a challenge for you- define the word "family." 

If I were to read your definition, your brother's definition, and your neighbor's definition, all of your responses would likely be different.  

According to Mirriam-Webster, family is "the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children" or "a group of persons of ancestry."

Years ago, I would have wholeheartedly agreed with this definition. However, as I have grown up, I have struggled to believe this. If anything, I felt limited by this definition of family. Being an only child, I was jealous of people who had big families and lots of siblings. Their families seemed so full, happy, and perfect. 

Of course, this was childish, selfish thinking. A big family does not guarantee happiness, and there are many people who have huge families yet feel alone and unsupported. I am so lucky to have a family, even just one person, to love me and stand beside me through life. (My family is actually awesome, and I love them to death.) However, some people lack a single person who they can confide in and who makes them feel loved. That is sad. This is my point. I believe that the definition of family should be broadened. 

Blood does not make someone loyal to another, create love, or summon joy from each other's presence. In my opinion, true family is made up of the people who love you and whom you love. The people who do not judge you, want the best for you, and will not abandon you at the first sign of hardship. Through Christ, we can all become one family. 

Quite honestly, I think it is ridiculous to exclude people because they are not related to them. What makes a sister better than a friend? Does it matter what "title" they have in a nuclear family? 

I simply do not understand what one person's blood relationship with another has to do with their ability to care for each other. It is a choice to be kind, to work to form a close, healthy relationship with someone. This has nothing to do with DNA. *

One time, maybe a year ago, I was reading my bible, and I was thinking about what it means "to love your neighbor." I am not sure what verse I read or how I exactly came to a conclusion, but I felt like God was trying to tell me something. God showed me that day that I needed to allow more people into my heart. 

He asked why I was limiting myself, and He placed a very deep question in my mind. "Do you really love your neighbor?" 

I thought long and hard, and I realized that I needed to treat everyone more like my family. God, through His Son Jesus Christ, united us. His sacrifice invited us all to become family with him. And one day, I believe, I hope, that we will all sit at God's table's and share a meal. All people will be held equals, and love will unconditional. 

No, I do not live on Cloud 9. I know that it seems far off and impossible, but this is the promise that has been made to us. 

Until that holy day comes, we must extend out our invitation of family, excluding no one. Jesus treated everyone like family- he gave them all respect and love. Even if people do not reciprocate, we must try to treat them kindly, to care for them, and to give them the benefit of the doubt, just you would to your family or anyone else you love. 

*I cannot deny the evidence of the bonding between a mother (or father) and a child, though. Studies have often shown that a mother's bond is very close to the baby if the baby has been inside her womb. Of course, there are exceptions to everything, but I felt like it was worth mentioning. Plus, I find this maternal bond very interesting. 

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Side note: I know that people can be toxic and abusive so, family or not, there are times when we must protect ourselves from destructive people. Sometimes people need more help than we can give. In some cases, our greatest act of love towards that person could be to speak out or walk away. Just because someone is family, it does not mean that they have a free ticket to walk over you or treat you poorly. 

So, if you truly are in an abusive (emotionally or physically) relationship, I am not telling you to bow down to those people. Get out. Abuse is not love. You deserve love just as much as anyone else. 

Romans 15:7 "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."

Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."