If you’ve ever watched the television series Blue Bloods, you know that every Sunday after church the family gathered around the table for a meal together. The family consisted of the retired N.Y. City Police Commissioner, his son who was the current Commissioner along with his two sons and daughter and their children. One of the sons was a detective ( he had a  wife and two teenage sons), the other son was recently married and both he and his wife were also on the police force. The daughter (with her daughter who was in college and a very “free thinker”) was the assistant District Attorney.   So, you can imagine their conversations as they worked through the events of the week and in their personal lives. The discussions could get a bit heated as they had the opportunity to express their views and involvements.  But in the end their families ties were strengthened in their support of one another in spite of differing views. 

     Family meal time is one of the few times in our busy, hectic lives when the members can sit down and spend some quality time communicating and sharing feelings and supporting one another.  It is interesting how often in Scripture we see the value of shared meals.  Jesus, in fact, quite often is found sitting around the table, sharing with family and friends (such as Mary, Martha and Lazarus).  It is one of the best times to get others to open up and communicate what is going on in their lives and talking it through.  Several chapters in John’s Gospel are alloted to Jesus’ final Passover meal with His Apostles (Jn. 13-16). 

     Tragically, families sitting down to eat together has become a rarity in our culture and time. So, that very valuable time of in-depth communication is missing and as a result, many feel lonely and isolated and do not learn how to communicate their feelings with a loving support group. Former Vice President Mike Pence recently published a book entitled Go Home For Dinner in which he discusses the importance, in this busy world in which we are pulled in so many directions, of carving out time to have the family together on a regular basis, and the best time is around the table.  In an interview with Decision magazine, Mike Pence said, “It’s the dinner table where we learn how to disagree agreeably and respectfully on issues that matter. I came from a big family–six kids–and once we all got into our teenage years, the dinner table became a vigorous place of discussion and debate. But there was always the guardrail that we never forgot that we do love each other there. And I’m not sure that it isn’t at the dinner table that, over the generations, Americans have learned how to deal with people we differ with and to never forget that we’re all Americans. So, I honesty think that if we revive the principle of sitting down together as a family, over time we’ll also revive civility in our politics. I think there’s an epidemic of loneliness in America today, which was exacerbated by the pandemic…I think the loneliness fuels division in the nation.”  (That’s a very interesting take on the state of the current chaos in our country!)

     God is the One who created the family as the basic unit of society.  If the traditional family is strong, the nation will be strong. But if the family struggles or crumbles, so will the nation.  “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psa. 11:3).  Our adversary, the devil, knows this, so it is not surprising how viciously he has attacked the family unit. Not only are families torn apart due to busyness and being drawn in so many directions, but our culture now has trouble even defining marriage or family due to the very anti-biblical, anti-Christian trends of transgenderism, LGBTQ, and gender identity.  These “progressive” ideas not only destroy the foundation of marriage and family, but they also create controversy and division within our nation. Probably never since the Civil War has our country been so divided and full of anger and protest. Government agencies, rather than carrying out their intended purposes, end up being used as political weapons against those who have different (biblical) world views, What a mess!  And much of it can be traced to the disintegration of the family unit.  As Mike Pence suggests, we no longer have a place where we can learn to disagree in an agreeable way without fear of consequences that the family dinner table provides. He also astutely adds that “If the priority of family continues to crumble in our society, no amount of legislation and no number of conservative leaders being elected will every make up for that erosion.” (Amen!)

     And, speaking of the value of family mealtime, the body of Chrst is also a family, and sharing meals togerther is a great way of strengthening the “family unit.”  Think of all the folks you have been able to fellowship with at the church potlucks or when you invite a family over for a meal.  That also reminds me that one day the “family of God” will be seated at the table for the “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9).  According to the marriage custom of Christ’s time on earth, a betrothal (like our engagement) took place and then there was a waiting period while the bride prepared herself and the groom made a place for them at his father’s house. Then, the bridegroom, accompanied by his male friends, went to the house of the bride who, along with her female friends, would join the “parade” back to the home of the bridegroom (at his father’s house) where the marriage supper would take place. It might last for days, as illustrated by the wedding at Cana (Jn. 2:1,2). Our “betrothal” took place when we said “yes” to Jesus’ offer of salvation. We are now awaiting the return of the Bridegroom from His Father’s House, to take us to His home (we call this the “rapture”).  Then the “marriage supper of the Lamb” will take place in heaven. It will be a glorious celebration for all who are “in Christ.”  

     Will you be there?  If you have said “yes” to Christ, you will be, and what a day of rejoicing that will be as we sit around the table with saints from every tribe and nation!  As you think of how loud and animated the conversation often gets at the dinner table at, say Thanksgiving, just imagine that scene in heaven!   

      If you haven’t yet said “yes” to Jesus, “the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come, let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost” (Rev. 22:17).   Come to the “table.” It is soon time for the family dinner!

Forever His,

Pastor Dave