Written by Professor of New Testament (The General Theological Seminary, New York City) Deirdre Good, Jesus' Family Values is a rigorously scholarly examination of exactly what "family values" and dimensions of the family were in the days of Jesus Christ and the apostles, and precisely what the New Testament has to say - and what it doesn't say - about such matters. Setting scripture in a firm and well-researched historical context, and meticulously noting the nuances of translation as well as which scriptures are considered apocryphal by which churches other factors influencing their interpretation, Jesus' Family Values makes every effort to analytically answer the questions: What were Jesus Christ's family values, and those of his apostles? What does this mean for modern Christians with abiding faith in both God and the importance of family? Of especial note is the keen observation that today's suburban family household divorced from the workplace perhaps resembles Victorian era households more than those of Jesus' time. A desperately needed antidote to proponents of "family values" who quote or misquote snippets of scripture to support specific narrow views, Jesus' Family Values places the highest value of all on truth - and concerning such thorny and controversial topics such as religion, the best way to reach the truth is to offer as much research, evidence, broad-ranging interpretation, and logical means of analysis as reasonably possible and let the reader come to his or her own informed conclusions, precisely as Deirdre Good has done. Highly recommended. Jesus' Family Values
Deirdre Good is a world wide New Testament scholar. She addresses a topic of upmost importance in today's globally diverse world: Jesus' Family Values. She systematically reviews the question through the lenses of New Testament writings from the writings of Paul to the various Gospel naratives. Deirdre concludes that the New Testament portrays a variety of teachings in regards to the most controversial issues facing our religious communities and world. She conludes there is, as a matter of fact, no "unified teaching on marriage, divorce, households, or families." As was true in the day of Jesus, people are continuing to come to Jesus representng a wide variety of lifestyles. No one lifstyle represents Jesus' true family values. Real family values will stand the test of time, she concludes. This is a must read for any person who takes seriously the call to follow Jesus, without sacrificing one's authentic personhood. After reading her book, I conclude that "real" family values reflects a radical commitment to family and neighbor. Conceivably diverse constellations of familes, immediate and extended, are called to reflect God's cosmic,universal, kingdom values. True family values nuance as families continue to live out Kingdom values in a diverse and changing understanding of family and neighbor. As an Episcopal priest, I believe Jesus' family values will ever challege racisim, sexism, homophobia, and hate wherever it is found.
I think it was in high school English grammar that we learned about the sometimes overpowering effect of "glowing generalities". "Family values" might be an example these days. "Jesus' Family Values" is a clearly written, intelligent, even scholarly response. What Jesus and then the early church really taught and lived about family, discipleship, and inclusion, especially as found in Matthew, Luke and Paul's letters, is clearly presented by Deirdre Good. If I were not retired, I would lead a parish Bible study using this book as text...
If your intent is to learn what the Bible says about family values, read the Bible and avoid this book. If your intent is to dismiss what the Bible says about morality and family values, read this book. The author (a lesbian) is a professor of New Testament at General Theological Seminary, a seminary of the Episcopal communion. As recent so-called scholarship testifies, you don't really need to believe the Bible is The Word of God to be considered a Biblical scholar. The author is one who believes in reinterpreting scripture to fit her view of morality and denying those she can't easily reinterpret. In her view of life, whatever form your family takes is fine with God. If your family doesn't fit the model set in scripture, paint the scripture as outdated and the particular offending scripture as being added later by an oppressive patriarchal church. This tack is fine as long as you don't then attempt to use other scripture to justify your position. When scripture says something you don't like, either take its position to heart and acknowledge you are mistaken, or form your own religion where everything goes, but for heaven's sake, don't say that your position is found in the Bible.'
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