How do you define family?

Welcome to the WOBC blog, where we hope to explore various topics relevant to daily life in light of the Scriptures. I will share what I am learning through my own personal study and I encourage you to join the discussion as we grow together in Christ.

For our first topic, let's look at the Biblical concept of family.

1) How do you define family?

I have been giving this question some thought lately as I see my own family growing. How we define what it means to be a family says a lot about who we are, what we value, and it has implications in society as well. For example, some say they value family but by that they mean only immediate blood relatives. Others may consider family to be any two people who care about each other. As our culture struggles with a changing definition of marriage, it is also facing confusion about what exactly makes up a family.

How I define family also says a lot about my worldview and experiences (for example, does my marital status affect how I think about singles with regard to "family"?), and it might even hint at my sense of purpose, how I view authority, and much more. So I ask you, how do you define family? What elements would be included in your definition? Can you help us come up with a well-rounded, articulated, useful definition of family? I list a few dictionary entries to get us started, but I challenge you to not stop there. Give it some thought, share your ideas, and maybe together we can learn more about our own families. All are welcome to comment whether you are a part of our church "family" or not. Once we have some good ideas flowing, I will attempt to compile the elements you suggest into a single comprehensive definition. Then in future posts we will explore what the Bible has to say about family and how that relates to us in our homes and in our church.

-- Shawn Hobson

FAMILY Definitions:

Holman Bible Dictionary - The basic household unit which provides a person's central relationships, nurture and support.

Oxford Dictionary - A group consiting of parents and children living together in a household

Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Group of individuals living together under one roof and usually under one head

Dictionary.com - A primary social group consisting of parents and their offspring, the principal functions of which is provision for its members

Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary - The collective body of persons who live in one house and under one head or manager; a household including parents and children