A Family Story – Clans, Tribes, and Banners

Greetings Dear Reader,

Some of the family we create is under a belief or cause.  We band together for a purpose.  It may be social, political, or leisure.  It can range from the great social cause to the support of a local team.  We band and bond around things and events.

These things are good when they unite us.  They can provide comrades and solidarity in a way that is healthy and re-creative.  It is when our tribal alliances cause strife and division that they are dangerous.

When we use our alliances to hate or harm others we violate the very purpose of family.  It is in family that we are to find peace and safety.  It is in love that we are to treat everyone in and out of our selected tribes.  Instead we use these as lines of division. 

This leads to anger and darkness.   It puts us at odds over things that do not matter.  It causes us to act wrongly over things that do matter.  We forget that no matter what our alliances we are one tribe; once race.  We are human.

It is in our humanity that we must realize that we can disagree about things without harming or hating each other.   As a Christ follower I am commanded to love everyone including Yankee fans (insert laughter here).   I must care for the needs of those with whom I disagree. 

If there is division over a social issue then I must assure that in my disagreement I do not neglect the needs of others.  Recently I have seen a social meme that says, “If your religion tells you to hate then you need a new religion.”   Perhaps we should replace the word “religion” with “tribe”, “clan”, or “anything”.   If anything tells you to hate then you need a new anything.

An honest examination of Jesus reveals that he commands us to love always.  He does not allow us to reject anyone.  We are to love at all times both the Father and all humans.  The journey requires that we journey together.  It is much easier if we do so in love.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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