Looking at your Family

One of the most popular books on emotional health from a Christian perspective is Pete Scazzero’s Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. One chapter in this book is entitled “Going Back In Order To Go Forward: Breaking The Power Of The Past.” Scazzero addresses the reality that we are all born into a certain family of origin, and for some of us that can lead to a decent amount of “emotional baggage” we carry with us throughout our lives.

Consider this quote: “…We may choose to become Christ followers, but in reality we continue to follow, probably unconsciously, the commandments and rules we internalized in our families of origin. The great problem, of course, is when our family’s invisible scripts are contrary to Christ’s. And when the family commandments passed on to us are so deeply embedded in our DNA that we cannot even discern the difference, the result can be tragic.”

I invite you this week to consider what influences have impacted your development. What “family commandments” are you carrying that hinder you from moving forward. For some, these deep influences may not be immediate family, but any significant relationships. What narratives are eclipsing Christ’s narrative of redeeming work in your life? Identifying these “scripts” can be a wonderful first step in breaking free from being defined by familial expectation and moving into more of the life that Christ has for you.

It is worth noting that some people have a particularly messy past with regard to their family of origin. If so, it’s helpful to remember last week’s lesson that we are made for community. Healing may be found by discussing these hard topics with a friend, or even a counselor. It’s in the context of Christian community that we can truly break free from any false expectation or narrative in our lives. These trusted confidants can help us see our blind spots and help us walk more authentically with Jesus than if we tried to do it on our own.

First Baptist

First Baptist

Recent Posts

Riverbend is home.

By David Butts | November 11, 2022
Riverbend is home

I love to visit a very familiar place, especially during an unfamiliar season. This week our staff went to Riverbend for a retreat. Riverbend is an extremely familiar…

Connect with Your Teenager

By Chelsea Judkins | November 10, 2022
Connect with your Teenager

It can be quite a challenge to connect with your teenager. The teenage years come with a lot of tensions, a lot of already-but-not-quite-yets. Teens grow in independence…

Attitude of Gratitude

By Preschool Ministry | November 10, 2022
Attitude of Gratitude

How do you help your child develop an attitude of gratitude? In our world today, I feel like that is getting harder and harder to do. A recent…

Cast Your Anxieties on the Lord

By Tara Tomes | November 10, 2022
Cast Your Anxiety on Him

I grew up in a broken household. Not only did my parents’ divorce happen when I was only 5, but they made it very evident to my sister…