Family Problems
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Unhappy Families
Q: Are there any examples of family problems in the Bible?
A: Yes it is packed with them. Your problem is illustrated and answered in the Bible.
Take your pick. Here's a few to start you off:
Barren wife prompts her husband to impregnate their au pair:
Abram, Sarai, and Hagar, their Egyptian maid bore him Ishmail, father of the Arabs. This family problem began in Gen. Ch. 16, and is continued in your daily news as the Arab-Israeli conflict. Very messy, but a useful illustration. Who will resolve it soon?
Lust, adultery, plotting, murder, and remarriage:
David, Bathsheba, Uriah, and Solomon. Imagine young Solomon asking his parents,
"Daddy, how did you and Mummy meet?"
"Err... well son..." 2 Sam. Ch. 11.
What has God taught you through their mistakes?
Sibling rivalry:
Christ called James and John, "sons of thunder" for a very good reason. How did He sort them out? Mk. 3:17, 10:35-45.
Jealousy, alienation, and redemption:
One of the most beautiful examples is the epic story of Joseph's fractured and uprooted family, his jealous brothers, their father's broken heart, and the majestic redemption it climaxes with. Put yourself in Joe's sandals, and you'll learn a lot from his wonderful example; and remember the bloke wasn't even born again. He didn't have what you have. Gen. Chs. 37-50.
Dishonoured and Unloved:
Then, of course, one of the challenges facing every first generation Christian is that their own families will be a hundred percent against them.
If you are the first Christian in your family, they will think you're crackers, and not be shy about letting you know. The antithesis of love. It comes as a shock, but is actually very reassuring when you read. Lk. 12:51-53 and Mtt. Ch. 10.
Land of the Rising Son
Got any good tracts in Japanese?
A: Yes these Japanese Gospel tracts work well. Young Japanese people are desperate for the Truth. They are tired of the "isms"; hedonism, consumerism, and materialism. They know enough to see Shintoism and nationalism are dead-ends, and they respond well to these cartoon presentations of the Gospel in Japanese.
Oasis in the Desert
Q: Are there any born again churches in London?
A: Plenty, but we don't direct people to any specific fellowship, for a good reason. It may be red-hot this week, but in a ditch next week. Sadly, I've seen it happen many times.
So we simply tell believers to ask the LORD to lead them to a Spirit-filled fellowship personally.
When I'm in the UK I go to any Spirit-filled fellowship I can find. There are some wonderful independent house churches, new start-ups, and Elim (the UK equivalent of AoG) are ubiquitous, and solid enough. Perhaps even in a rut.
Beware of the cults; RC, SDA, LDS (Mormons), ICC, JWs; dead denominations, and such-like.
Anglican churches in the UK are all-but Roman Catholic in name, packed with idolatry, holding the blasphemous Mass, and they unashamedly call the Archbishop of Canterbury their "spiritual head". Astonishing! Who's your spiritual head? Col. 1:18.
When I first got saved I often went to an Elim fellowship on Merseyside pastored by a former heroin addict. The Lord promoted him to pastor a large international fellowship in London that's grown rapidly. Ex-junkies make excellent pastors, because they learn to stick close to Christ and depend on His power, not flesh. Flash-Harry pastors with bucket-loads of smarm and charm are best avoided. Look what's happened to cult-America.
Kensington Temple is the biggest Spirit-filled fellowship in London. But as I say, ask the Lord to lead you; believe, and He will.
Making restitution
Q: What is restitution?
A: It means the same in Christianity as in the dictionary: Returning or restoring something stolen or obtained by immoral means. It also includes compensation for the damage or trouble caused.
Take for example little Zacchaeus, the dodgy tax collector who got saved. He immediately made restitution by paying back four times what he'd swindled.
It is important to note that this is not in any way buying forgiveness of sins, it simply follows from genuine repentance and gratitude for Christ's mercy.
It can be a seemingly minor thing or amount, but if the Holy Spirit is convicting you to put it right, you will receive great blessing after you obey.
Have you stolen something, borrowed permanently perhaps? Now you know what to do about it.
