Some Thoughts Regarding Spiritual Nepotism
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesIn recent years, the term “nepotism” has come to be seen as favoritism shown to any relative, usually in disregard of merit, ethics, or even law itself. In short, it is the practice of giving priority to relatives over things that are right — favoring family over God (cf. Matthew 10:37).
We can plainly see nepotism’s relevance in the spiritual realm, when we look at Eli’s relationship with his sons (1 Samuel 2:12-36). God saw Eli’s indulgence of his wicked sons as a thing of iniquity (1 Samuel 3:11-13). The sin of Eli was his practice of favoring his family above God.
Parents who are more concerned with their children’s wants than with God’s commands, makes themselves the enemy of God. Through His word, God shows us that children need restraining (set them bounds and limitations), discipline, and spiritual training (cf. Deuteronomy 4:9-10; Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Deuteronomy 11:18-19; Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 23:13 NKJV; Ephesians 6:4).
To withhold these things in favor of pleasing the child, is to honor him above God — it is spiritual nepotism. We not only hurt our offspring in withholding from them proper spiritual teaching, we also hurt them in upholding their evil thoughts and actions.
Isn’t it interesting to note just how some schoolteachers have nothing more to do than pick on our “perfect” children? (tongue-in-cheek). As parents, we know they wouldn’t do all those awful things they’ve been accused of by that old mean teacher — right?
It seems that confidence and trust are absolutely essential to us in the secular world — except when they blind us to truth and cause us to defend our youth in wrongdoing. Such blind allegiance is a poor substitute for real love and hurts a child’s spiritual development (cf. Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 19:18; Proverbs 22:15; Proverbs 23:13; Proverbs 29:15). See also Proverbs 17:21; Proverbs 17:25; and Proverbs 29:15.
Faithfulness requires a consistent application of truth and right to all persons and all circumstances (see 2 John 1:9; John 15:4-5; John 15:7; John 15:10), and note the word “abide” – a consistent abiding).
No doubt Abraham could have offered God excuses a lot easier than he could offer his son Isaac — but, thankfully, faith triumphed over his feelings (as it must in ours). It is in anticipation of these very conflicts that Jesus says:
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37; cf. Luke 14:26).
Additionally, we see the above principle in the husband and wife relationship as well. Think of the Christians who have allowed their marriages to divorce them from God — who have allowed their union with an unbeliever to separate them from the Lord.
It is nothing short of spiritual nepotism when wives (or husbands) put pleasing their spouses above pleasing God (cf. Acts 5:1-10).
The apostle Peter’s admonition needs to always be before us:
“We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29 ASV).
Brethren and friends, we are living in spiritually difficult times where family loyalty is desperately needed. But may God help us to see that loyalty to our family needs to be discharged within the framework of true faith (Romans 10:17). We owe it not only to our family, but more importantly, to our loving, forgiving and merciful God (Deuteronomy 6:5-6; Luke 10:25-28; cf. Matthew 6:33).
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