Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Monday January 26, 2009

I often speak about the family, that mysterious entity many call the clue of civilization, the hope of the world, the ultimate refuge of the weary. It is said in the Bible that God Himself places the solitary in families. J. Austin Bennett sent a quote that is at least among the top ten definitions of family:

"The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other."

Those who have studied the Christian Family understand the above is of the utmost importance in molding the nuclear family into the force God meant it to be when He talked about properly trained children being a valuable instrument against the forces of evil. Even in today's anything goes spirit, any betrayal of family secrets is considered a violation of sacred trust. Dad and Mom's weaknesses are not to be shared with others lest they become fodder for neighborhood gossip. One of the sons of Noah was sternly punished by God for making light of his depressed fathers weakness while under the influence of the fruit of the grape. Families are to be Las Vegas in nature in that what happens in the family stays in the family.

Tragically fortunes have been made by celebrities (I call them celeBRATS) who sell the skeletons of the family. Yet, we who have lived long have observed the person who is not respectful of the sanctity of his/her family is unlikely to respect any lesser human bond.

In counseling sessions one of the most disgusting scenes is the grown man whining about his mother loving his sister more than she loved him. I keep cases of Kleenex for such.

In brawling neighborhoods the wisdom has long been and is, "Charlie and Johnny are always fighting each other, but God help the man who attempts to fight one of them." Charlie and Johnny are loyal to each other against any "other."

The dream of America is by and large the story of families that stuck together through thick and thin. Tragically in our time the idea of large families bound together by similar goals and dreams is relegated to the ash heap. The House of David or of Solomon in the Bible gave place to the concept of bonded families pooling time, talent and treasure to the accomplishment of grand dreams.

Pity the preacher who fails to grasp that ancestral blood is thicker than the waters of baptism; especially in a small country church.

By the way today's great quote on the family comes from the pen of Mario Puzo the late authority on Italian families.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2009 Use with credit.

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