How Family Is the Basis

for Community

By Karl D. Coke, Ph.D.

God’s plan for mankind has always included the value of family. Therefore, wherever the family is valued there is peace and stability. God saved a family when He saved Noah from the flood. God’s value of family was demonstrated in His creation of Adam and Eve. His first commandment was, "Be fruitful and multiply." Abraham was chosen as the "father of faith" because God said of him,

". . . he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord. . ." Israel is the family of Jacob. Jesus is called our elder brother. Believers call each other "brother" and "sister." We address God as "our heavenly Father."

Our church, Family Restoration Fellowship, was birthed on July 1, 1991. It is a congregation of Believers who consider being among the "haredim" mentioned in Isaiah 66:2 and who is dedicated to restoring the family according to Malachi 4. As pastors, God asked us to reach out to "the sheep marked for slaughter" according to Zechariah 11:4. We were to open our hearts to people others did not want. We have received the brokenhearted and allowed the Lord to heal them. We took into our extended family only those who were serious about following God.

Soon relationship replaced membership. People replaced buildings when people stopped "going to" church and became the church. Heads of households have become spiritual priests in their own homes. Study has replaced sermons. Tithing according to Deuteronomy 26 has produced God’s blessing upon all that our families "put their hands to." Biblical use of the tithe has produced humility and proper relationships.

People in proper relationships have produced a flood of ministry. Healthy Believers now share their relationship with the Lord with others. New converts have now joined our growing family. Trust in our leadership (who follow God’s Word) has replaced power struggles and political pressures. Human problems are handled, not hidden. Spiritual maturity is demonstrated as the result of each openly sharing their burden. Those who have assumed the responsibility of their own spiritual growth have grown more rapidly than ever before.

Below is some of what we have learned (thus far) from the biblical model found in the Tanach and B’rith HaDeshah following our having been "born" into the family of God:

01. The value of Shabbat.

02. The value of birkat hamazon.

03. The value of blessing our children.

04. The value of blessing our wifelbusband.

05. The value of yeshiva.

06. The value of tithing.

07. The value of our rich Jewish roots.

08. Etc., etc.

In my world travels, I have noticed a grievous evil. I have met a few cultural Jews who "do" Torah without belief in the Lord of the Torah. On the other hand, I have met many Christians who "believe" the Word of God and do not "do" most of it. It seems Yeshua HaMashiach was correct in John chapter 4 when he said his Father was looking for those who would do both, "worship in spirit" (believe) "and in truth" (do). "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." We consider Torah to mean "instruction" for our own good. We, like Israel at Sinai, say, "Whatever the Lord says, we will do." We desire to be the "haredim" mentioned by Isaiah whom God esteems. We want to show our faith by what we do. We do not consider it burdensome to follow God’s instruction. We not only want to do God’s Word, we want to do God’s Word God’s way. We no longer consider the opinions of men. It is out of sincere hearts that we only want to please Him. Baruch HaShem!

The Relevance of Torah to Family Life

The Lord said of Abraham, "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. " (Genesis 18:19) The Lord spoke to Abraham’s son, Isaac, in the midst of a famine, and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." (Genesis 26:2-5) The issue of these two passages is that a family was blessed because the father was Torah observant and taught his children and household the same. "If you were (are) Abraham’s children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did." (John 8:39) Paul said, "Consider Abraham: ‘He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ " (Genesis 15:6) Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ (Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18) So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." (Galatians 3:69) Isaiah instructs us to "look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many." (Isaiah 51:2) Isaac was not "born" into Abraham’s family because he was Torah observant. Isaac was "born into" the family of God by the birth process. He was then taught Torah observance by his father in his father’s house.

The Home is the Center of Spiritual Life

The home should be the center of spiritual life. That life begins with salvation. David led his son, Solomon, to faith when he said to him, "He who dwells in the shelter (rt,seB]) of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1) Solomon responded by saying, "I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."’ (Psalm 91:2) Here, Solomon "confesses with his mouth" and "believes in his heart." As the result, David tells his son Solomon of the benefits of living a life of faith which is Psalm 91:3-13. Present was the Lord, who said to David, "‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."’ (Psalm 91:14-16)

Following salvation, the fathers, in the home, should instruct abaut spiritual life. Solomon said to his sons, "Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give. you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.’ " (Proverbs 4: 1-4) The point is that parents need to instruct their children in their home.

Instructions for the Home

The instructions for the home are defined in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (the Shema). It says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Children need to be taught because, "Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm; the signs he performed and the things he did. . ." (Deuteronomy 11:2,3) The Lord said, "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commandments always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!" Always, the children are being instructed in Torah that they might be blessed.