Years ago we had friends whose interests were not like
ours. To build a relationship, I began searching family history and trying to
discovery our genealogical roots, a hobby of theirs. At first, it was
interesting but I soon became bored. No one in our family wanted this
information except one cousin who was trying to find a living relative, not any
who had died.
Since then, I’ve met folks who do this research for other
reasons including health. Our friends are still looking into their roots,
speculating what might have happened to this uncle or that great aunt. Aside
from historical interest, I’ve wondered if there is any spiritual value to this, realizing that at least one
religious group are heavily involved in genealogies.
Even though I’ve read this passage many times, I never
noticed what it said about this topic until this morning. Paul writes to the
pastor of the church in Ephesus with these instructions . . .
As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane . . . . (1 Timothy 1:3–9, emphasis mine)
False doctrine was a
problem in that early church. So also was being side-tracked by non-issues,
even myths. A myth is a “traditional
story that usually concerns the early history of a people or explains a natural
or social phenomenon typically involving supernatural beings or events.” It
can also be a widely held but false belief or idea.
Interesting that
myth and genealogies are tied together in this Bible passage. A genealogy is a
line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor. My experience is that
even finding ancient birth and death records, newspaper clippings, and other
visible evidence, most of the study of ancestors winds up with more myth to it
than provable facts. This study, as Paul says, side-tracked them and me from
more deeply knowing Christ and growing in faith.
From this passage, I
can see a link that is not strong yet makes me wonder. The largest group
involved in genealogy have a reason for doing this. They trace family
trees to find ancestors who died without learning about their version of the
gospel, wanting all relatives baptized by proxy into their faith. For them, genealogy
is a way to save more souls and family history is a requirement for getting to
heaven. They believe they will meet all their ancestors and be part of one
giant, eternally bound family. Since everyone is related to everyone, their
research is incredibly vast.
This belief system goes beyond what was happening in
Ephesus yet something like it was side-tracking those early Christians. This
indicates that genealogy is just another one of the liar’s devices to keep
people from realizing and living out the truth that is in Jesus. As Paul says,
they wander away into vain discussion
with their rules and laws, not understanding the reason God gave the Law, nor
the grace that brings us into a productive relationship with Jesus Christ.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Lord Jesus, You showed me again that my curiosity can be
both a good thing and not. I can easily be drawn into endless pursuits that are
a total waste of time, genealogy being one of them. As I said to my friend (who
is also losing interest), I want to think more about where I am going than
where I have been. Family history can be fascinating but knowing the family of
God and the joy we will share together in eternity is far more exciting. One
day heaven will be filled with the sons and daughters of those who have put
their faith in You. Our family tree is not the issue because what we do with
Your offer of forgiveness and eternal life will determine our destiny.
Today’s thankful list . . .
Heaven’s population will be people related by faith in Christ,
not by blood or DNA.
I enjoy being with God’s eternal family right now.
A day to work on a charity quilt.
Hubby has Fridays off to golf, catch up on household
stuff, and just relax.
Thinking today how God supplies all my needs.
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