Dysfunctional Families

While at Catalyst I had the privilege of hearing Reggie Joyner speak about the family and there was a ton of great stuff but there was one quote that stuck in my head more than anything. He said “There are no good pictures of the family in the Bible.” I thought surely he has to be wrong. If the family is so important to God then how in the world does He not give us a picture of a what a good family looks like or at least a somewhat normal one look like?

• Adam’s Family.  Started with blame and ended with murder.  Adam blamed Eve for eating the apple which I’m sure went over well every  night at dinner as Adam got home from work.  [Well I wouldn't have had to go to work today if you hadn't eaten the apple...I could be playing with the zebra's naked]  Bickering went on which I am sure affected their relationship with their kids.  [Mommy why is daddy always naked, he just can't let go of the past.]  Eventually the bickering between brothers led to Cain killing his brother Abel.
• Abraham’s family.  Abraham pretends that Sarah is his sister and then Abraham gets another woman pregnant.  Then one day Abraham says to his son Isaac trust me as he raises a knife to kill him.  Serious counseling and trust issues had to occur in that family.
• Jacob’s family.  Jacob had 13 kids with 4 different woman.  Jerry Springer is looking for Jacob currently for his next episode.

I have looked through the scriptures and found nothing. Not one picture of what the family is supposed to look like. I wonder if it’s because the family is not supposed to look like a specific image? As individuals who make up families we are to look like Christ.  That is our ultimate goal.  Go ahead and read the Bible and look for a normal family.  Trust me when I say it will make your dysfunctional family feel a little bit more normal.  Strive to look like Jesus and maybe your family will as well.