I have friends whose bond and connection is that of family.  Friends who live close and far.  Distance does not dictate how close we are.  Nor does “stuff”.  Friends are and will be forever.  How does that happen?

I wrote a post this morning …

“Hugs across the miles”

and found that one line jumped out and danced around

“Family is family no matter the wombs.”

No … matter … the … wombs …

Friends is family
Adopted children is family
Friends across the miles is family.

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Family IS family because of bonds that cannot be broken – connections that bind – relationship that is forever.  Family is not just family … family IS family.

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“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” Matthew 1:18-19

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“Family is family no matter the wombs.”

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I was taught about a perfect God – a perfect God who became “man”.  As though that somehow sullied God (especially for our benefit). That God downsized massively (to become a poor sinner NOT like me).   God slummed it (just for me).  I am also taught that I am His perfect creation … But not perfect: “You are a sinner.”

So which is it?

And then all the Godly mystery “science” … Jesus only needed once as “man” (because God’s plan is perfect).  And the Godly mystery science theology … this wasn’t “Perfection V2” – it is my fault – I should be grateful that God gave me a “V2”.  And the science skepticism … Jesus was a sacrifice for my saving (so you’re definitely imperfect).

But if God is perfection … why all the Godly messing about?

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“Family is family no matter the wombs.”

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Just took all of “that” away this morning … All the teaching, the debating, the skepticism, the science … all the “messing about”.  Real and literal – or not real and simply imagery … ?

Does it really matter if “I get it” …?

“Family is family no matter the wombs” 

What if all the taught theology … the Garden – the tree – the “sin” – the smiting – the wandering – the straying – the prophecy – the foretelling – the genocide – the hopelessness … The virgin birth – the miracles – the teaching – the death – the burial – the resurrection – the farewell …  The early church – the dissent (again) – the keeping in line (again) – the believing something revolutionary – again (that each saw differently – again) …

What if all of that was a story?  What if all that is just  “Family is family no matter the wombs”?  

Would that story be any better or any worse than the bible story as taught?

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Might it do away with the theological drawing board of cause and effect, offer and consequence, right and wrong, ying and yang, theological calculation after theological calculation … ?

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I was taught that God doesn’t love everybody. 

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Except it’s taught as “God loves everybody – even you, young Paul, if …..”   Just with “if” added on … Unless I believe in God as taught then God doesn’t love me enough to have me as part of His family – not because of God – but because I don’t love God enough to be part of His family.  And the consequence is my eternal damnation and separation – hello “fiery Hell”.

And that teaching is “revised” with the arrival of Jesus: God now loves everybody – even you, young Paul!  

Except the “belief and saving and consequences” stuff remains in place.  None of that has changed: still no family – still eternal separation – unless …

(and I have seen and heard that sliced and diced: that I am wrong … that family is family and God does love everyone … that my eternal separation and damnation is not God’s choice – but mine alone … That I choose my fiery Hell – and God is really really sad about that)

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Well if God is this mystery that I was taught God is … How come there is so much theological clarity when it fits the (taught) theological drawing board of slide rules and process maps …

But so much Godly mystery “twilight zone” when it doesn’t (and plenty of bits don’t)?

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“Family is family no matter the wombs.”

What if God just loves everybody?  What if family is family?  What if Mary and Joseph (not as taught) is simply a statement of …

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“Family is family no matter the wombs”

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How much a “bummer” would that be (and to whom) … ?

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