Everything Is Related
One of the aspects of The Truth Process class that I love is that it makes me think – really think.
During our discussion this past Sunday, Carl made an observation that keeps coming back to mind. I can’t remember his exact words, but the gist of what he said was that if we took care of matters within the family, the culture would look a lot different. There is a great deal of truth in this statement, and I believe the comment came in the context of talking about how our kids “catch” our values. As this has been rolling around in my mind over the past few days, I am reminded of how closely connected the Social Spheres, which bear God’s divine imprint, really are.
There are many wonderful aspects of The Truth Project, and one that I especially appreciate is the concept of Social Spheres. This conceptualization helps us see and understand how God’s design, a reflection of His very character and nature, is stamped upon each Social Sphere. Everything reflects what we know as “The Trinity”.
In the Trinity, we find the Father, in a position of sovereign authority, which He delegates to the Son. The Son, though equal to the Father, in submission to the Father. The Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and son. Here we see perfect authority, perfect submission, perfect unity, and perfect oneness.
In the Family, we find the Husband in a position of authority. The Wife, though equal to the Husband, in submission to the Husband. The children proceed from the Husband and Wife. This is God’s design for the Family. This is what it is to look like in terms of structure. God has also disclosed how it is to look in terms of function. To refresh your memory, see Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7; and Ephesians 6:1-4.
What does this have to do with the culture?
As I think about Carl’s observation about the family, I can’t help but wonder what this culture would be like if Christian families functioned more consistently according to God’s design. Would we, as individual believers begin to expand our “circles of influence”? Would our children be better equipped to resist the false truth claims of the culture as they go out into the world? How much of a difference would it make?
I can’t think of a single remaining Social Sphere (Church, State, Labor, and Community) which would not be improved if there were more families functioning according to God’s design. You may be wondering why I left out the sphere of God & Man. I did so because this is where it all begins. If we don’t get this one right, it becomes incredibly difficult to get any of the others right.
Here is what I mean…
At the moment of salvation, we are ushered into a very special relationship with the God of all creation. This relationship is so special, so amazing, that it is practically incomprehensible. But it is, nonetheless, TRUE! You and I, as children of the King, enjoy a divine intimacy with members of the Trinity. Scripture speaks repeatedly of the reality that Christ is in us. (Colossians 1:27; John 14:20; John 17:21) Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit is in us. (John 14:15-16; Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:11)) This is indeed a very special relationship.
Here is what I have discovered in my stumbling walk with the Lord: When I can “hang on” to this truth (that I am one with Christ and the Holy Spirit), I approach everything else in my life differently. When I understand my true relationship with God, I am far more inclined to function in a manner consistent with His design for the Family, Labor, Community, etc.
I am convinced that for each of us, this is the starting point in the process of God using us to transform the culture. Once we understand our real identity in Christ, we are free of the dead weight that often hinders us from ministering to others around us, including those within our families. For our families to be better (meaning more like God’s design) we must be better in the sense that we actually live in the power found in the divine, intimate relationship between God and Man.
When we believe – really believe – that Christ is in us, then we are able to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1).
In Christ,
John
Soli Deo Gloria
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I heard a sermon once that talked about Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah.
ReplyDeleteThe speaker pointed out that since God agreed to save Sodom and Gomorrah if there were 10 righteous persons in it--that if Lot had simply gotten his own family in line that would have been enough save Sodom and Gomorrah.
It seems to me that is a good thought, but from my reading I remember Lot and his wife had two daughters(not quite enough for the 10).
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree,(who could disagree with John?) that if the God-man relationship is not functioning properly that man(me!) really can't function properly in any of the other spheres as God intends. Pray that I spend more time with Him until I 'get it'!
Sorry I didn't clarify: the speaker also meant Lot's extended family.
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