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Definition and Purpose of the Family
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 6
Should the family be a very important structure in our day?
YES! The home or family is the basic unit of all of society. The family is to society what the atom is to the universe. It is the cornerstone on which everything is built. Any society that allows the family unit to collapse, will itself eventually collapse. This is demonstrated vividly throughout history. The most classic example is that of the Roman Empire.
As in the natural, even so in the spiritual. If the home is vital to the success of a society, it is even more important for the success of the church. To establish a new home is the reason that a man leaves his father and his mother (Genesis 2:24).
What is a good definition of the family?
The dictionary defines the family as:
- A group of persons of common ancestry;
- A group of persons living under one roof and usually under one head;
- A group of things related by common characteristics and properties;
- The basic unity of society having as its nucleus, two adults living together and cooperating in the care and rearing of their own or adopted children.
While this definition is good, we must also understand the biblical concept of the family.
In the Old Testament (Genesis 7:1, 7, 13), the family was a very close unit. The family structure itself was the vehicle through which God communicated to man.
The concept of menial labor and service is found in the origin of the words that are rendered “family” in the Old Testament. Therefore, the family involves work.
In the New Testament several words are used for “family” or “household”. The most enlightening of these is the word “therapeia”. This word is a very versatile word and has quite a range of meanings depending on the context. It is therefore translated in the following ways in the Bible and extra-biblical sources:
- Household (Matthew 24:45)
- Servants (Luke 12:42)
- Healing (Luke 9:11; Revelation 22:2)
- Worship of God (extra-biblical sources)
- Service (extra-biblical sources)
The verb form of this world means “to serve; to care for; to care”.
The family, therefore, is to be a base where work, care, service, healing, and worship are common elements!
When God created and ordained the family, He did not do so without purpose or design. God established the family as context in which man would realize the eternal purposes of divine image and dominion for which he was created (Genesis 1:26-28). The family is therefore a God-ordained context for the establishment and development of:
- God-centered relationships and fellowship
- God-like character
- God-ordained ministry and function
- Natural and spiritual reproduction
- Spiritual and natural dominion
It is in the family that the true principles of relationship to God and to man are laid down. It is in the family that true God-like character will be produced (2 Timothy 1:5). It is in the family that all ministry and function will be tested and proven) (1 Timothy 3:4, 5; 5:4; Titus 2:5). It is through the ministry of the family that the family of God will be enlarged.
What are some biblical examples that show the importance of the family?
In the Bible there are both positive and negative examples of family life. God expects us to follow the positive examples. He also wants us to be warned by and to learn from the negative examples (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11).
Positive Examples:
- Joshua:
-- Joshua said, “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
- Abraham:
-- God said, “For I have chosen him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice; in order that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him” (Genesis 18:19).
- Cornelius:
-- “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God (Acts 10:1, 2, 33).
- Crispus:
“And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized” (Acts 18:8).
Negative Examples:
- Eli (1 Samuel 3:13)
- Samuel (1 Samuel 8:3)
- A family with hatred:
“Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith”
(Proverbs 15:17)
- A family with an offended brother:
“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are
like the bars of a castle” (Proverbs 18:19)
- A family with a foolish son:
“A foolish son is the calamity of his father…(Proverbs 19:13)
What is your working definition of the family?
The family is the God-ordained basic unit of society having parental headship and discipline which is established for the purpose of enjoying a common life together through working, caring, sharing, serving and ministering to God, to others, and to itself!
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