“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39, KJV)

“And he answered and said unto them, my mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” (Luke 8:21, KJV)

These are the radical words of our Savior. The one who came and gave His all for us so that we could be saved from sin and made right with God. What does He mean when He says such bold words as, “He that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me?” These words have weighed heavy on my heart for months now, and I have continued to savor the words of Christ, and finally feel that I have come to understand the radical message He was giving us.

In our culture it is assumed that if you love your child, you will fully accept them, even if they are walking contrary to Christ, but is this what Christ teaches? No! Instead, He says that if you love your son or daughter more than Him you are not worthy of Him. How can we love our children more than Him you ask? By accepting their rebellion to God in order to “keep the peace.” This may look good on the outside, like real love, but Jesus is teaching us here that in doing so we are not walking worthy of Him. He bled and died to take away the sins of the world. When we coddle our children in their sin, we are taking that full sacrifice of Christ and throwing it away. We are choosing the temporary peace with our children over honoring Gods greatest sacrificial lamb. This must not be dear brothers and sisters.

How about this strange event that takes place in Luke chapter 8 when Jesus’ disciples point out that His mother and brother are waiting outside the throng of people for Him. He answers them in a very unexpected way saying, “My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” The Lord desires us not to worship our family and its members in place of Him. He wants our closest family to be the ones who follow and believe in Him and allow the rest to fend for themselves.

Am I suggesting that we should not be cordial to our family members who are not walking with God? By no means. I am however giving us all the charge not to allow those relationships to take place of the importance that God should have in our lives and that we live boldly and unashamed of His truths, even if it causes separation and division. Let us not idolize our children, our parents, or our spouse so much that we begin to compromise the truth of God’s word. Christ paid a great price for us all. Allow Him the chance as the good shepherd to go after that lost sheep, and in the meantime invest in the people around you who already are walking in His ways.