The Holy Tribe of Light II: By Tim Kernan
About two years ago I wrote this article about how awesome it is to be part of the family of God! As I wrote in that article its so hard for us to understand the unity of the church because of the atomizing individualism of modern western society that many of us come from.
Even though its hard for us westerners to understand its true that most people in the world today are born into a working tribe or closely knit extended family. Why? Well with 30% unemployment on average in the undeveloped world you simply need a to belong to a tribe to survive. If you have a job one week out of four your happy to push your money in towards the leadership of the tribe because the weeks your not working you know some food and shelter will come your way. This shocks us as westerners but its how most people in the world survive! If you don’t know that the early Christians lived the same way understanding the bible is going to be hard!
Today, instead of joining a family and a Kingdom as the early Christians were doing, millions simply “subscribe” to an empty “Christian philosophy” of life and maintain their selfish individualism. Even as disciples failing to understand the concept of the Christian family and tribe, as many of us do, leads to tons of unnecessary pain and provides too many opportunities for Satan to divide us. Every disciple and especially every leader in the church needs to understand what we are as a family.
Lets get our footing in the Old Testament then move into the New Testament to see if we can grasp what kind of family we are supposed to be as the church.
Genesis 18:18-19
Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
When we go back to the Old Testament its clear that it was Abraham’s family that would become Gods “chosen people”. From the very beginning, as we see in this passage, God expected His tribe to stay faithful to His instructions and obey Him from generation to generation as His plan unfolded. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of the Old Testament knows that Israel was a man originally named Jacob and that the twelve tribes of Israel were simply his ten sons and the two sons of Joseph. How did you become part of Israel? You were born into it!
That being said you could also become a citizen in Israel though obedience to the law and adoption into a tribe. One famous example of this was of course Caleb who was an Edomite (Josh. 14:6) from the Kenite tribe (Gen. 36:11) that were in Midianite territory (Num 10:29, Judg. 1:16). He even ascended to being the leader of Judah and the brother of the first Judge of Israel Othaniel!
So its clear that in the Old Testament being part of the “people of God” meant that you were actually part of a tribe, you respected the authority of the tribe and you benefited from belonging to a family that would protect you and help you no matter what. In the Old Testament the deal was clear, you belong, you stand or fall together and you always remember: blood is thicker than water.
OK, lets see what we can learn now in the New Testament:
Jesus was born into the Tribe of Judah as its written in Matthew 2:6 ” ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’ ” and again in Hebrews 7:14
“For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah…” However here in Mark 3:31-35 Jesus clearly renounces whatever family ties he has and initiates his new tribe based on obedience the new covenant! Take a look at this passage:
Mark 3:31-35
31Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”
33″Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
34Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
The modern reading of this passage is “”Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. “I just love God and that’s enough.” However the actual reply of Jesus was “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” That means that as disciples we need to allow ourselves to be “adopted” as children in a new family not sitting on the fence as mere “members” of an organization! That was Jesus’ attitude! We can often struggle with submitting to the authority of leaders in the church because we still have one foot back in the individualism of the world and we have not yet given our hearts to the Christian family called the Church.
Our tribe has nothing to do with the color of your skin or where you were born. Ours is a tribe based on commitment! Paul wrote: 1 Corinthians 16:15-17 “You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it.” So our “family” are the committed disciples all over the world and we need to submit to those who join in the work and labour at it!
When I look around the world today I can’t see anyone more committed to making disciples of all nations, with one standard of commitment than Kip McKean and our Sold Out Movement. We’re also so lucky to be discipled and mentored by the Williamsons. Its amazing how people who are so diffrent can remain so united. The Blood of Christ is thicker than the water. As those who are so clearly “joining in the work and labouring at it” I submit to my leaders and I urge all disciples to submit to their leaders with love. I’ve seen division and discord take out so many people who didn’t understand the concept of tribe and brought democracy and individualism into the church…
For me its a great feeling when people notice my labour for the Lord and “adopt me” as an older brother just like the household of Stephanas or how I respect and submit to my leaders. They are grateful for and submit to my leadership like younger siblings. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy! It makes you feel appreciated and trusted as a leader in the family! At the same time when I’m dealing with a more prickly and individualistic customer all kinds of bad feelings can well up inside me. I’ve jumped the gun and called people “obstinate” and “prideful” a few times.
I’ve learned that if I take the time to really teach them about the “Tribe” they have come into as disciples its amazing to see their defensiveness melt away! When they really grasp what it is to belong and be loved the fear of rejection and scorn just disappear!
I would like to urge everyone to reread through your favourite Scriptures and open your eyes to the tribe you are part of as a disciple. Then I urge you to ask yourself if there are places you can be kinder and gentler to those who are “under you in the Lord” (1 Thes 5:12) in particular those who come from broken families and may be struggling to really understand how good it is to belong to a a spiritual family. I would also urge you to consider where you might not be giving those over you in the Lord a warm fuzzy feeling and where, in fact, you might be a nagging pain in the back!
Lets pull together as a family and live the life of love God wants us to live!
Your bro (little bro, big bro, father in the faith, son in the faith)
Tim
