ST. CATHARINES CONCORDIA - Brock University

TOWARDS CONSTRUCTING
A SPIRITUAL FAMILY TREE:
BLOOD AND WATER
Erw in A . B mse
"Pastor," she confided, "if I didn't have this church family, I'd have no family at all."
At first the pastor Ielt warm, like he must be doing his job to make this person a past
of the church family. However, hc also noted that this woman was sabotaging allempts
by members of her own family to join the church. He also saw hcr need to bc in charge
of everything in which she was involved, posing many problems for those who wished
to work with her in church activities. What does this mean?
Rabbi Ed Friedman has wisely noted that people are "simultaneously involved in
three distinct familics whose emotional forces interlock, Lhe families within the
congregation, the congregation, and our own."' Thesc forces at work are the living
family or emotional system ol which we are all a part.
So, the clergyman who pursues an undcrstanding of his own family system is
simultaneously gaining an understanding of the families of the parish and of the parish
as a family. To pursue such a genealogical enterprise is a useful experience in humble
confession and serendipitous absolution as the hand of God is tracked through past
and present.
Constructing n family tree of any kind could be dismissed as prohibited by the
New Testament since Titus (3:9) and Timothy (I Tim. 1:4) arc both adviscd against
"vain genealogies." However, Paul's point seems to target the work of constructing
family trees for the sake of vanity, using them competitively in the Kingdom where
cooperation in the body of Clxist is the living and crucial way of lifc.
Scripture contains lists of "begats" beginning already in Genesis (ch. 11) and
running through to the very Christ of God as recordcd by Matthew (1:l-17) and Luke
(3:23-37). The Gospel writers do not give the genealogies in a grudging manner but
in a spirit of commcndation. To be sure, all endeavours of' mankind can and will be
misused, but all are useful and bring glory to Cod by those who arc alivc in Him. The
harsh words to Titus and Timothy may more likely be connected to the words of Jesus
to Pharisees who saw thcir claim to grcatncss in their blood relationship Lo Abraham
(John 81, thus blocking out a faith relationship to the heavenly Father who has a
kingdom and people who are made up ol'niore than blood descendants of Abraham
(Matt. 12:46-50, also in Mark and Luke).
A warning about VAIN genealogies is in order, but the encouragement to pursue
the constn~ction of a family tree in a spirit 01' humility and failh can lead to giving
greater honour to our God and calling His people to their knccs in awe at thc workings
ol' His I-edemptive plan in a personal and family perspective. There is no substitute for
I lidwin Friedman, Geiieriinoii to (;ri?ewtioir (Ncw Yo1.k: Guilford Prcss, 1985) 1.