Daddy, Chase Away the Zombies

I know a family, or I guess you could call it a family. They have at one time or another all lived under the same roof, so I suppose that is enough to qualify them for the title. The parents got a divorce a few years back, and the wife is working over time on her second affair at the current moment. The husband was exceptionally gifted in the skill of sarcasm and practiced it frequently on his wife and children. The oldest son is sort of a "live in a van down by the river" kind of guy while the second oldest is currently in rehab. The youngest son is in prison for cold blooded murder, and the youngest daughter is who knows where. Their's is the family of America.
Here are just two statistics out of kabillions having to do with the family. The website I got these from are down below:

"Children of all ages experience abuse and neglect, but the youngest children are most vulnerable. Children younger than 1 year old accounted for 41 percent of all abuse-related deaths reported in 2002; three-quarters (76 percent) of those killed were younger than 4." 1

"In 2001, there were 42 children and young persons who were brought to the Juvenile Court for Care and Protection Orders, and this rose by 62% to 68 in 2003. " 2

Jesus and the apostle Paul talk a great deal about the unity and connection of family as well as the mysterious connection between husband and wife in sex. Paul talks about husbands and wives loving and submitting, and pretty much falling all over themselves in humility for one another. God in the Old Testament talks about children honoring their parents, and, even though He commands "children," there really isn't an age limit placed on this law.

A friend of mine and I were talking the other day about how many people are walking through their everyday lives in such great amounts of pain, agony, and loss. I went to a Christian high school and a Bible College. I have lived in a pleasant little bubble most of my years where everyone, for the most part, appeared to be managing just fine (or at least pretended to be, because that was, perhaps, the only way to exist in such a bubble). However, over the past few months I began working at my home Church, and I have started interacting with the everyday man and woman. It didn't take long to realize that many of these people were mere shells of human beings. They are only flesh and bones, but they lack life and joy and true connection.
I see more and more people looking like the Night of the Living Dead, where each person who was originally created with laughter, motives, vision, and meaning is caught and killed. However, their bodies continue to thrive, but none of these bodies have any connection with other bodies. They live in their own private death wandering the country side. I suddenly screamed and ran out of Church the other day, because I realized I was sitting three chairs down from one.

Here's where I'm going with all this:
The family has self-destructed in America. Husbands beat kids. Wives neglect their children, and siblings physically and/or sexually abuse their brothers and sisters. However, in the Bible, God refers to Himself as a protecting Father or a caring mother and Jesus as an intimate brother. Also, He refers to Himself as a pursuing, romantic lover--the knight in white armor. The only problem with these examples is that its no longer a safe analogy to make. Fathers are scary and mothers annoying while brothers are intimidating. The reason people are walking around like the living dead is because the family has broken down. There are no longer any analogies to help them understand God, so they see Him as the equivolent of their hateful, earthly father.
If God is against you just like Mom and Dad or just like your spouse, there is no longer any reason or purpose to hang in there. Give up, and wander the country side. It's all you have to do, if God is, indeed, like the average modern day parent.

Unity in the Church starts with unity in the family. The health of society as a whole and as individuals starts in the family. The journey of every man looking for God starts where? in the family. "Unity" is not a Church word, but a household word. Therefore, Husbands, love your wives and give them a reason to respect you. Wives, give your husbands the respect they will then deserve. Children, honor your father and mother, and find God in your unity today. May we fulfill the analogy this very day.

*1 http://pediatrics.about.com/od/childabuse/a/05_abuse_stats.htm

*2http://www.subcourts.gov.sg/mediaRelease/ProfileStudy_23Feb2005.pdf#search=%22statistics%20about%20dysfunctional%20families%22