Thirty years ago, while on vacation, I worshipped at a large Texas congregation. In his year-end sermon, the minister thanked the church for being patient while he helped his son work through drug addiction. Now, these and other family issues are common, even among ministers and elders. It seems no one is safe from such heartbreaking ordeals. Does God expect Christians to have ideal families who are always on the “same page” spiritually speaking? Are family problems ever efforts of Satan aimed at discouraging Christian efforts? Let’s consider some passages.

Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came 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 man’s enemies will be the members of his household. (Matt. 10:34-37, NASB)

While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. And someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.” But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold, My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matt. 12:46-50, NASB)

For God said, “Honor your father and mother”, and, “He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.” But you say, “Whoever shall say to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” he is not to honor his father or his mother. And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. (Matt. 15:4-6, NASB)

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. (Matt. 19:29, NASB)

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness,…disobedient to parents… (Rom. 1:28-30, NKJV)

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents… (2 Tim. 3:1-2, NASB)

© 2016 Weldon Langfield

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