ST. CATHARINES CONCORDIA - Brock University

10 LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW
salvation by grace through faith alone, and the pursuit of a spirilual family tree can
enhance an appreciation for it.
From the example of the genealogy of Jesus by Matthew, one senses that a true
family search will reveal the presence of gross sins like the incest of Judah and Tamar,
the prostitution of Rahab, thc thievery, murdcr, and family devastation of David,
whom only the grace of God could come upon and produce a Son of David who was
so much rnore. 2
To look realistically at one's family of origin is to look original sin in the face
with all its ugliness and shamefulness. (Such an exercise makes original sin less an
academic exercise about Adam and Evc and more an expcricncc in faith.) Hence, it is
not surprising that a main resistance often heard to digging into a family tree is a fear
of what one might find in the closet. Such kars are well founded. However, it only
increases the sin to kccp secrets in thc closct sincc they are already powerfully at work
in the present in powerful covert ways. Indeed, it is much better to know them, to
understand them and to live with them, than to attcmpt to recreate a world into which
wc may enter full-grown and without ancestry. Only Adam and Eve can claim that,
and their fate is well known.
From biblical reading, from historical understanding as well as from the study of
family systems, it becomes quite clear that keeping family secrets cripples and
paralyses fulure generations, locking them out of a dynamic, more abundant life. Thosc
who rcfusc to know history are bound to repeat it.
Old Israel got in trouble repeatedly by forgetting what good God had done for
their sinl'ul forefathers. No serious reading of thc Old Testament can miss sceing how
the forefathers were made patriarchs, nearly objects of worship, instead of remaining
as objects of God's grace upon sinful human being\. They were not moral heroes, but
examples of thc powcr of a rescuing, saving and faith-giving God.
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Most people are alrcady genealogists of a sort, collecting stories and clippings,
photos, and heirlooms. To become an intentional builder ol' a family tree, one may
avail oneself of many resources. In the secular world, genealogy has become onc of
the most popular "hobbies." As a result, a person can get started by a trip to the local
Post Office with a query. Local schools offer courses Ihr beginners, and most
communities have organized historical and gcncalogical socictics that are eager to
hclp anyone get started.
Another important place to start is with living relatives. Pursue those especially
who are more cur off from the family. Listen to them and ask them questions. Use a
tape recorder. Look through their old family Bibles and pictures. Kecord everything,
even dead ends! All infornation received--facts, dead cnds, and stories--provides
important information for latcr detective work. Buried treasures and mine fields often
2 hlartln Franzmann, hilow Me: /)ist~pleshrp Accoriirng to Mrrttheu (SL. Louis: Concordia Publishing House,
1961) 10k.