“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
Summary: Following the bread crumbs in Paul’s thinking leads us to a meditation on how cancer affects the body. How does the metaphor of cancer provide guidance for the modern family and church?
Today’s passage is a quote from Genesis 2:24. Paul has done an interesting thing here. He begins in verse twenty-one with a general statement about submitting to one another “out of reverence for Christ.” Then, he segues into a discussion about marriage, and from there, he transitions into a discussion about the church.
Paul knows the Scriptures well! Looking at the Old Testament Scriptures through the lens of God’s divine revelation, he sees a common truth: God intended to have unity among his people. He wants unity between God and man, husband and wife, and the church and its head, Jesus Christ.
All this is rooted in our bodies as a metaphor for what Paul is trying to tell us. So let’s look at that metaphor more closely.
When cells in our bodies do things they are not supposed to do, we call it a disease. A cancer is simply a group of cells in the body that have gone wild. They multiply uncontrollably and create growth in the body that is not part of the body. Does that sound familiar?
Families are designed to grow together in a controlled way. God designed us to fall into an organized structure in the family. When that structure is disrupted, the family suffers. Uncontrolled “growth” can be as simple as the growth of an idea. When a member of the family rejects the family structure, they risk becoming a cancer in the family.
The body of Christ is the same. Jesus understood that he was sending his people out “like sheep among wolves” (Matthew 10:16). Even though he desired unity for his church (John 17:23), he understood that there would be cancers in the body of Christ here on earth.
Just as a person who wants to avoid cancer is careful about what they eat, the Christian family and the church needs to be careful about what they allow to be part of their community. Since the cancers we are talking about are conveyed by ideas (words and images), we need to be vigilant about what we allow into our minds and constantly on guard against the work of the devil.
Application: Stay vigilant and always keep God foremost in our thoughts.
Food for Thought: How can we protect our families and churches against the kind of thinking and behaviors that cause disruption to our social and spiritual health?
1 John 5:20-21 ESV And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
I think anything can become disruptive if allowed to become more important than Jesus in our lives. I think guarding against thinking and behaviors that are disruptive starts with prayer, reading the Bible, applying it to our lives and actively seeking this with our families and within our churches.
2 John 1:9-10 ESV Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,
Abide in the teaching of Christ, and don’t receive those “into your house” that don’t. One would need to be rooted in the teachings of Christ to do both of those.
Thank you, Chris!
I love the action steps you outline: Prayer, reading the Bible, applying it to our lives, and actively seeking God’s will in the company of others. Well said!
Good comments as always CH.
We need to take every thought captive to guard against destructive philosophies that are contrary to Christ. There is a demonic deception that seeks to sway our minds away from the truth of God’s word. The best antidote to a lie is the truth. 2 Corinthians 10: 5; Colossians 2: 8; Romans 12: 2.
Rich,
Your thought reminds me of Ephesians 6:12 —
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Good words! Thank you!
“Take every thought captive indeed!”
Amen, Brent!
Thanks for checking in! 🙂
09-21-2023, How can we protect our families and churches against the kind of thinking and behaviors that cause disruption to our social and spiritual health?
We live in a spiritual battle being waged for the hearts and minds of people, including the people in our families. Anybody who believes that we’re not in this spiritual battle needs to try to explain the conditions all around us. Knowing this, we should live in the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-18.
Our families are our primary ministry and we focus on allowing Christ to minister to them through us. Know we are opposed by this world system and technology and be alert knowing their choosing a life in faith is their choice.
Our churches must be aware of this truth and be prepared to effectively deal with casualties as well as wolves disguised as sheep.
The Holy Spirit gives us discernment so we can look inwardly and grow in Christ, however we must practice daily following His leading as a way of life as He reveals truths around us also.
The casualties in spiritual warfare include people from wrecked marriages, affairs, abuse of positions and power, money scandals, suicide, alcoholism, drug addictions, pornography, and the list goes on. They are people many want to avoid but Jesus has drawn them and they need to be seen and healed by the power of Jesus Christ through believers in the church.
There will come wolves who are there to disrupt and destroy all the true teachings of the church.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
2 Corinthians 11:15, Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
Titus 1:16, They profess to know God, but deny and disown and renounce Him by what they do; they are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving and disobedient and disloyal and rebellious, and unfit and worthless for good work of any kind.
These must be identified quickly and effectively dealt with by the church.
Ron,
Thank you! Your delineation of the “casualties in spiritual warfare” hits home. The sad thing is when we don’t see the consequences until it is too late.
Well said!