ST. CATHARINES CONCORDIA - Brock University

12 LUTHERAN THEOLOGTCAL REVIEW
Pharisaic exercise to establish a position that can be used to look down on others
through the accomplishments of some ancestor.
In the secular world, this is easily seen in the work of the Daughters of the
Amcrican Revolution, in which genealogy is a rcquircmcnt for membership. Or one
is struck by the use of the word "pedigree chart" as used by genealogical societies. In
the church, the same kind of spirit can creep into those who talk about their dcsccnt
from somc noblc religious lcadcr. Experience and family systems studies support the
understanding that those who boast are st~iving 10 rill a hollowness in their hilh and
life. Using a fnmily name for power or position is common both in the world and in
the organized church.
Another danger can be a deep discouragement by some who become entangled
with a long history of brokenness in thc family trce or who run into nxmy dead ends
or missing pieces. While that may be a reality for many, the need to find others wilh
s~~pport and encouragement can also grow from this study in the process. The twin
dangcrs of arrogance and despair are the daily fare for the growing child of God, also
in his humanness.
A SPlKITUAL DIMENSION
So on top of a l~uinan family tree, with all of ils religious dimensions as well, we
are set to begin to superinlpose and deepen our picture of a spirit~~al family trec aftcr
the manner of Jesus' declaration: "Whoever does the will of my Father: is my brother
and sister and molher" (Mark 3:35).
A spirit~ial overlap needs to be done with thc human in sight, but adds the crucial
questions of faith. As Luther wondered where faith would have existed in the middle
ages were it not for the power of Baptism, so we may wonder about our family trec
as well. Hencc a Baptismal history is in order for everyone. Identifying the people of
faith as well as the people of blood may produce some people who are bolh. It will
also produce names and faces of people who are not in your human lincage but whose
lifc affccts yours.
Since we are people who live in both ol' God's Kingdoms, we can see our heritage
in both a human dimension bound by all thc laws of nature as wcll as a spiritual
dimension blessed by all the grace of our God who became human. Even a secular
genealogist can say: When you study the hislory of all the plagues, wars and other
catastrophes that have swept through thc ccnturics, onc can only marvcl that hetshe is
the descendant of the survivors. So in the Kingdom of God, one can not only marvel,
but pray, praise and give thanks that one is numbered among the spiritual descendants
whom thc Spirit of God has numbered by His amazing grace!