KIDRON CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AND SEMINARY
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Nation and National Government
A nation, in this sense, can be defined as “a group of people with a shared history and a sense of a group identity” (Jewfaq.org, para.1). The purpose of the nation, through its government, was to protect the people and the plan and purpose of God. Again, this purpose is stated in Exodus 19:5-6, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.” The plan and purpose of God for Israel was to be a kingdom of priests (מלכות כהנ׳ם) and a nation that was holy (kodesh) (קדש); set apart for the work and the use of God. They were separated in order to gather all the nations of the earth to the realization and understanding that the Lord is God and there is no other. Jesus further defined this idea of family, Abba’s House, tribe, and nation when he said,
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick (Menorah); and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16).
The nation was to be a kingdom of priests (מלכות כהנ׳ם) that developed from the spiritual progression of family, Abba’s House, and tribe. The nation was to have a worldwide impact of demonstrating, in a practical way, that the Lord is God and there is no other. If the nation and its government began to function against the interests of these three groups, then the government had to change. Government was simply a tool in the hands of God to accomplish His purpose of family, Abba’s House, and tribe. Any nation that does not honor family, Abba’s House, and tribe is working against the plan and the purpose of God.
Conclusions and Recommendations
God’s plan was not without purpose, and the coming of Messiah was not and is not just about being born again. Messiah is about relationship. God’s plan and purpose for the Church was to make of the Gentile Nations, along with the Jewish Nation, one (echad) (אחד) new man to fulfill the plans and purposes of God in the earth. God’s plan was for the Church to be an extension of and not a replacement to the Hebraic idea of family, Abba’s House, tribe, and nation to rightly impact the community, the nation, and the world.
The Need for Mothers and Fathers in the Home
The Church was never designed by God to be the center of spiritual growth. God ordained the home to be the center of spiritual growth with the mother nurturing and caring for the children to prepare their hearts for the teaching of the Word of God and the father teaching how to walk out the Word of God in a practical way. According to a recent survey by the Washington Times, “One in three homes are without a father, and over five million live in homes without a mother” (Rosiak, para. 3). It is amazing that the solution to many of the problems in both America and the Church could be corrected simply by dealing with the problem of absentee mothers and fathers in the home. Single-parent homes are inevitable, but this weakness can be strengthened by the presence of a strong Abba’s House. This strong Abba’s House must be built through committed involvement to families of each local Church.
Evidence abounds that without the presence of a father, children are more likely to be raised in poverty, suffer from lack of proper higher education, increased drug use, alcoholism, increased crime rates, and in general, a lack of teaching of Christian values. The result is the breakdown of proper functioning in community. The result of the breakdown of family causes Hallul Hashem (הלול השם), disrespect to the name of God. God ordained family. When godly fathers and mothers are absent from the home, the family, the community, and the nation will suffer. The solution must first start with the reestablishment of the home as the center of spiritual growth. In Judaism a minyan, defined as ten men, is required for communal religious service. Jesus maintains the idea of the minyan and reinforces the role of the family within a minyan and the Body of Messiah, which can be strengthened, when He states: “for where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Based upon this definition, Adam and Eve in the Garden were a Church; Noah and his families gathered together on the Ark were a Church. Those gathered together on that historical night in Bethlehem were a Church. In each case, family was Church if they maintained the (עדות) testimony of the Lord. Each Church and each family was called to teach the children, maintain the testimony (עדות) of the Lord and impact the world. His presence within the two or three strengthens that testimony. The Church is an ‘Edah, not an ἐκκλησία, or a קהל because its purpose is not to gather and deliberate but to achieve the plan and purpose of God to be a מלכות כהנ׳ם and a nation that is קדש.
The Church as Abba’s House
The local Church is intended by God to function and to be the Abba’s House. This is to be the extended family to serve the purpose of protection in times of crisis, provision in times of need, and that place of continued teaching of the Word of God with emphasis on walking out the Word of God in community. Each local Church is designed to function as an Abba’s House to each family in that local Church. The role of the pastor and members of that local Church is to facilitate and train moms and dads to be the spiritual leaders of their homes, as well as being extended family to those who may be single parents. It is not, nor has it ever been, the function of the ‘Edah to replace the mothers and fathers as the prime teachers in the home. The local Church is to be in place to provide protection, care, and provision so that the family can become all that God intended it to be. Abba’s House represents teaching, wisdom from those who are older, and a place of learning how to be the proper spiritual leaders of the home. In single-parent families, Abba’s House is to function as the extended family for teaching, safety, and provision. Continue Reading