Actually, "promoting the traditional family" can indeed be a form of idolatry. Jesus said, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (cf. Mt. 10:37)
Does Jesus literally want us to hate our family members? I don't think so, I think He's using hyperbole to challenge us not to make idols of our families (or anything else). This is consistent with the Apostle Paul's clear teaching that it is better to remain single and celibate and that marriage is an accommodation to human weakness (see I Cor. 7).
God wants us to love God first and foremost ("This is the first and great commandment"). And, secondarily, we are to love everyone else. So, any Christian who unduly prioritizes the family is indeed falling short or missing the mark. Of course, rightly calling out idolatry of the "traditional family" is no grounds for hatred or for idolizing non-traditional families.
Actually, "promoting the traditional family" can indeed be a form of idolatry. Jesus said, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (cf. Mt. 10:37)
ReplyDeleteDoes Jesus literally want us to hate our family members? I don't think so, I think He's using hyperbole to challenge us not to make idols of our families (or anything else). This is consistent with the Apostle Paul's clear teaching that it is better to remain single and celibate and that marriage is an accommodation to human weakness (see I Cor. 7).
God wants us to love God first and foremost ("This is the first and great commandment"). And, secondarily, we are to love everyone else. So, any Christian who unduly prioritizes the family is indeed falling short or missing the mark. Of course, rightly calling out idolatry of the "traditional family" is no grounds for hatred or for idolizing non-traditional families.