Are we as human beings truly in a free society? The answer to this question is not simple by any means, but under the perspective lens of God-given free will, the answer is yes, because we do make our own choices in life. With that said, the path to from childhood to adulthood is a lucid example of the various influential forces that tug and challenge at this free will because everyone is surrounded by different environments. We all have different experiences and challenges to overcome while we are growing up which, in turn defines who we are in society. A deeper more profound look at the definition of a society reveals that families are indeed miniature societies. “Durkheim equates society with social solidarity” (Greenwald, 1973, p. 157). Paul Carls states that, “Chief among his claims is that society is a sui generis reality, or a reality unique to itself and irreducible to its composing parts. It is created when individual consciences interact and fuse together to create a synthetic reality that is completely new and greater than the sum of its parts” (Carls). A sound contention can be made here that Durkheim’s take on society fits the sociological definition of family, and that this also coincides with God’s perspective of a family as a society along with our impact on others in society as a whole. Essentially, God’s perspective is that the whole is equal to the sum of its parts, and our Christian perspective is that He (God) is greater than the sum of our parts as social units.
To start, let us begin by examining our individual identities in Christ in the New Testament of His Holy Word. John 15:5 (the King James Version) states, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (Holy Bible , 1997). With careful attention to the last clause of the verse, we notice that Christ says, “without me ye can do nothing” (Holy Bible , 1997). Under this context, it can be said that, if there is no active role with God, then there can be no foundation for a Christian society or family. To enumerate, everything begins at home. Since the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts, we need to focus on Christ, and when we do, we begin to manifest fruit from His vine because we grow outwardly from Him. The Holy Trinity is a society made up of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and when we accept through faith that God the Son died on the cross of Calvary for our sins, we join His family. Once the Holy Spirit becomes immersed in our hearts, we enter into a communal relationship with Him, and since everything flows from Him, we have a structure for family. “The trinitarian model reflects the nature of relationality (distinction and unity) and becomes a core ideal and a central theme of understanding family relationships” (Balswick, Jack O.; Balswick, Judith K., 2014, p. 5). To clarify, when we are Christ-centered, we are flourishing among His family which allows nature along with nurture to work together to establish and strengthen our faith in Him which ultimately unites us all. This can be referenced as universal faith. “Universalizing faith is characterized by a commitment to overcome division, violence, and oppression, and an ability to transcend specific belief systems” (Balswick, Jack O.; Balswick, Judith K., 2014, p. 147). As Christians, the belief systems we choose to overcome are all humanistic, and could only be defeated by Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins as mentioned in John 3:16.
Ultimately, another way of looking at this is, that as members of the body of Christ we are all His children, and we need to support one another as members of His family so that His message can be spread to those who do not believe. God has given each of us unique gifts which we can use to spread his love, and lift up one another with. Here on earth we need to utilize these same basic principles with our own families because we are extensions of Christ. Remember, John 15:5 is differentiation in Christ, it opens with, “I am the vine, ye are the branches” (Holy Bible , 1997). We open the door to trouble if we fail to recognize our own identities in Christ because Satan will use these wedges to separate us from God, and convince us to live of our own God given free will. We are instructed to help one another. I Thessalonians 5:11-13 (the King James Version states, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves” (Holy Bible , 1997). When we step outside of our own social construction, and into the Lord’s family He influences us in ways which glorifies His will which is to lift each up. “Family members being responsible to one another while not being responsible for one another’s spirituality—an important distinction—characterizes healthy family spirituality” (Balswick, Jack O.; Balswick, Judith K., 2014, p. 149). Only with God’s family model comes true inner comfort and peace. Amen!
Works Cited
Balswick, Jack O.; Balswick, Judith K. (2014). The Family: A Christian Perpsective on the Contemporary Home. Grand Rapids,MI: Baker Academic.
Carls, P. (n.d.). Émile Durkheim. Retrieved from Internet Encycopedia of Philosophy : https://www.iep.utm.edu/durkheim/#H2
Greenwald, D. (1973). Durkheim on Society, Thought and Ritual . Sociological Analysis, 34(3), 157-168. <https://www.jstor.org/stable/3709771?seq=1>.
Holy Bible . (1997). Thomas Nelson Publishers .
