Given the so-called culture wars, it is always bears repeating that Jesus was never the “family values” kind of fellow folks not familiar with the Gospels might believe him to be based on the propaganda. Both when confronted by issues in his own family or by larger questions of familial relationships, Jesus appears, in fact, to have small regard for the “traditional family”. For Jesus the only commitments that are ultimately important are his commitment to his Father and his disciples’ commitment to him. All other relationships, arrangements, and commitments, familial or otherwise, are subservient to these.
The cross is ultimately good news for the world but before it can be recognized as such it first has to be experienced by both Jesus and his disciples as bad news. Before it can be the instrument of peace and reconciliation it must be the instrument of torture and death that it most assuredly is. The cross is no easy fix, no divine Band-Aid for a wounded world. The cross is no less an option for the disciple as it was for Jesus.
Our families, traditional or otherwise, are important. I think Martin Luther’s attitude toward family is instructive. The same Luther who saw family as one of God’s greatest gifts was also able to say (sing) in his most famous hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, that spouse and children might need to be “let go” for the sake of the Gospel. Luther is only able to say this because of his belief that God’s truth abides and that God’s reign is forever.
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