Thought for Today

Genesis 37:2 This is the story of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers . . .

Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband's side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.  

Luke 2:4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  

Matthew 25:40 And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'

Next year, I will celebrate the 10th anniversary of my ordination. Very early in my experience as a minister, even prior to my formal ordination, I recognized that one of the themes in our faith especially important to me is the idea of our being a family of faith. Then and now, the idea of family heavily influences my ministry. I was reminded of that last night during our monthly Council Meeting.

Not long after I graduated with an engineering degree and began to work as an engineer, I became interested in management. I enrolled in a relatively new program and ultimately received an MBA. My area of concentration was in what that university titled Behavioral Management Science. To hedge my bets a bit, I also took extra, elective courses in accounting and marketing. During that period, I developed a fascination with trying to understand why we do what we do. All of those courses ultimately found application in my present career as a minister.

In the late ‘60s and early ‘70s one of the interesting ideas developed suggested that an individual’s place in the birth order of the various siblings heavily influenced that person’s behavior, especially in the approach to conflict resolution. As a middle child married to a middle child, I found that idea interesting. It explained much about how Greta and I approached life.

If you have read the story of Joseph, he was the next to youngest of the sons of Jacob. His relationship with his siblings was conflicted, to say the least. As I read that saga in Genesis, I still am intrigued by Joseph’s relationship, especially with Reuben and with Benjamin.

For the whole span of my ministry, the idea of ‘family of faith’ has remained a constant for me. Christians are a ‘united’ family in what we refer to as Christendom. Some of the various ‘siblings’ within that family have as conflicted a relationship as did those sons of Jacob. Yet, we remain united with the family . . . sort of. Admittedly, the concept of family of faith is a bit of a metaphor; and, sometimes that metaphor can seem a bit strained.

If we understand the various Christian denominations as the siblings within the family of Christendom, it does become a bit more strained. Throughout our history as a faith, denominations have fractured, split and reformed. There are now a plethora of different denominations within our larger family of faith.

I especially find the metaphor applicable at the level of individual congregations; and, I was reminded of that last night during our Council Meeting. Our By Laws state “The Church Council shall consist of Pastor, Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, and leaders of committees . . . The Church Council acts as the executive body of the Church and oversees all matters concerning the church not expressly delegated to other bodies of the church.” Soon after being called to this pupil, I attended my first Council Meeting and have continued to do so each month.

I am always struck by the fact that each member of the council has a specific interest, responsibility and focus. Yet every month each member listens respectfully to the cares and issues of all other members. We don’t always agree. Yet, as members of our family of faith we can civilly hear each other, discuss, vote and then accept the wisdom and guidance of the majority. We are always cognizant of the presence among us of God the Father, Jesus the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We are truly united as a family of faith. United in faith, belief, worship and purpose. We continually strive to follow Jesus’ words, "Luke 10:27 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself" in what we think, say and do.

Stay safe, remain united in faith and action, trust God,

Pastor Ray