Family

This weekend, The Salvation Army's' Family Camp will be taking place at Camp Happyland in Virginia. Our region has not has this event for five years, so it is really quite a new adventure for my children.

The idea of family is a confusing one for my children. At the Corps (The Salvation Army Church) there are a number of children that refer to Christi and me as Mommy & Daddy. On several occasions Michael, my 8 year old son, has asked, "Why does so and so call you Daddy. You're not his Daddy, you're mine" I then try and explain that we are a Church, and our Church is in the family of God. I then get this look of , "that doesn't make any sense to me...but OK". So then I wonder, how far does this spiritual family thing go? Is my Spiritual family my Church? Is it all of Christianity? Is it just The Salvation Army? And if I become inclusive, am I eliminating everybody else? (being The Salvation Army there is no religious restriction on who we serve)

I am reminded of the story of the Prodigal Son. He rebelled against his Father, he did what he wanted to do, and he ended up in a position of complete hopelessness except for the possibility of going back to his Father with his tail between his legs. He expected to go back as a hired hand because he felt he no longer deserved to called "son" but...his Father immediately reinstated him as son, and their reunion was a celebration.

Just because a person is in rebellion, it doesn't mean they are not family. We call God our Father, and that is a privilege of all created men & women. WE might assume a different role or try to separate ourselves from the Father...but he remains our Father so that, when we return from our rebellion, we can assume our God given role as His children.

I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God!