“Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, ‘He is out of his mind.’” – Mark 3:20-21
It’s safe to say that Jesus’ family didn’t understand Him! Prior to His resurrection they were skeptical, going so far as to believe He was crazy and try to stage an intervention! If that happened to Jesus, then we can naturally expect some tension with our own family when we are serious about following Jesus.
Even when your whole family is Christian, there can be tension when you deepen your commitment to truly follow Him rather than merely claiming His name. There can be tension about how you spend your time, your energy, your passion, or your money. There can be tension around career changes, lifestyle changes, and character changes. It’s OK. Jesus makes clear that we must choose Him before any other relationship.
This is a hard message to hear and live! We’re to love, care for, and provide for our families. But these needs aren’t meant to be “balanced” with following Jesus. Following Jesus must be first and foremost. Our care for our families must flow out of our obedience to Jesus. Our culture doesn’t like to hear this truth – we don’t want to admit or explore the tension between family and Christ, but Jesus taught clearly on this subject in the midst of a culture that took family far more seriously than we do today.
In your obedience to Christ, is there at least someone in your family who thinks you’re crazy and taking your Christianity too seriously? If so, you’re in good company. If not, you might need to consider whether you’re following Jesus closely enough!