Live Like Family


Family, 2003

If we are born anew as children of God, we are brought together as a family. Observing the ways we treat each other, sometimes I feel that our family may be a little dysfunctional. We have trouble playing nice. Paul speaks to this in Galatians, as he warns of focusing too much on the details, while forgetting the message:

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. (Gal 5:13-15 NIV)
When angered, we injure; when corrected, we rebel. In many ways it seems as though we do not believe the very message that gives us hope. So what can we do to bring the family back together? We can learn love. I can change no one but myself, so here I start.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Gal 5:22-26 NIV)
As Paul writes, pride pulls us away from experiencing the fruit of the Spirit. My own search for importance is the very thing that moves me away from Christ.

Things to see
What role do artists play in the church? Michael Spencer, the internet monk, has an open letter to young artists who feel marginalized by traditional concepts of ministry. I feel fortunate to be greatly supported by my family in Christ, and would have a difficult time creating without their encouragement.

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