Myth: Family is the most important relationship in the church.

Having a family is a great and wonderful experience. I happen to love my own family. However, being in a nuclear family is not the point of Christianity. Jesus said, " Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:21-22). He went on to say, "'Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's foes will be members of one's own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:34-37). Jesus felt more than our true family is the family of believers. An incident during his life demonstrated this belief. "While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, 'Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.' But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' And pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" (Matthew 12:46-50, also Mark 3). I have even hear this myth expanded to say that if God gives a person a call, they must first submit to their parents authority (because of "honor your mother and father") and only if they approve should the ministry be accepted. This is the opposite of what Jesus said.

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