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Step Children Of God

On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister shocked the world when he became the first person to run the four-minute mile. Because of his accomplishment, his name has become a household word for untold millions of people who know little, if anything, about field and track. However, as Paul Harvey would say, there is the rest of the story. As amazing and significant as that feat was, there is another part of the story that is just as amazing and which, when we understand it, should have a tremendous impact on our lives. It is the answer to the question, Why?

Why was Roger the first? Was he simply the first of a new breed of athletes that are stronger and faster because of better nutrition? Was it advanced training techniques? Was it a quirk of fate? Although some might argue those points, there is a simple, basic reason why Roger was the first. He was the first to believe that he could do it. Before that historic day, many athletes came close. They failed because deep down within themselves they did not believe it could be done. For some reason, the sports world believed that the four-minute mile was humanly impossible. That belief was so strong that it, in effect, became a truth. It is what many would call a self-fulfilling prophecy. Athletes were convinced that they could not do it.

Until Roger. Roger did not accept the self-imposed limitation. Instead, he believed that he could and would do it. Then he did something unusual for his day, but very common now. He practiced visualization. He visualized running a four-minute mile in his mind over and over again until it became a reality to both his conscious and sub-conscious minds. The rest is history. Four-minute miles are now common for world-class athletes.

However, what does this incident have to do with stepchildren? Moreover, where does the Bible say anything about stepchildren? The incident has everything to do with stepchildren, and no, the Bible does not say anything about stepchildren directly. In our society, we commonly use the term stepchildren to refer to family members, real or symbolic, who are not afforded all the rights, privileges, and respect given to the natural children. Literally, stepchildren are in a parent-child relationship, but figuratively the term can be used with other relationships, such as that of an employer and employee. Another term commonly used is second-class citizen.

When I worked for the Social Security Administration, the term was often used in reference to those who worked on the Supplemental Security Income Program (welfare) added in the early 1970s. Many people in management who did not want the program looked down on it and thought that working for a welfare program lacked dignity and respect. As a result of that mentality, many offices would assign their less qualified people to the program, often provide lower quality supervision and training to those employees, and place them in less desirable workspace.

Regardless of whether we call someone or something a stepchild or a second-class citizen, there are consequences in that type of relationship. One result is a poor self-image. A poor self-image can be followed by underachievement, impaired relationships, and destructive patterns of behavior.

It is important for us to understand these consequences because many of us came out of a church organization that cultivated a stepchild mentality in its members.

Before becoming a part of that church organization, I graduated with honors from a well-respected university in the Midwest. In the church, however, my achievement was treated as less than nothing. Not only did I not attend the church school, but also I had been polluted by the world’s educational system. Members with as little as one semester at the church school were afforded more respect and considered more qualified for church offices and other assignments. I had to accept the fact that I would always be a stepchild or second-class citizen in that organization. The same mentality continues in many of the splinter groups.

The stepchild mentality was instilled in other ways as well, even among the so-called elite in the church. The church taught that we were to become members of the God family, but only after the resurrection. In this life, we are the weak of the world. Constant reference was made to scriptures such as Jeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it?" And Matthew 19:17:

" ...There is none good but one, that is, God." We were constantly reminded that as humans, we were insignificant, less than nothing. If Christ did not consider himself good, where did that leave us?

Please do not misunderstand. This article is not about bitterness against my former church organization. Instead, it is about a mindset that resulted in certain less than desirable consequences. Whether the mindset was deliberately cultivated as a method of control or was an unforeseen side effect does not matter.

In going beyond blame or accusations, we have to recognize that we were a part of that mentality because we allowed ourselves to think that way. What we have to do now is understand it so we can correct it in our own lives. We are a product of our thoughts. If we are told we are stepchildren, and we believe in our minds that we are stepchildren, then we become stepchildren and act like stepchildren. Is this what God wants? Absolutely not! God did not create stepchildren. Sadly, we put ourselves into that category.

If we are members of God’s true spiritual church, we have a heritage, which comes through Christ a result of the love He had for us and the sacrifice He made for us. We do not earn a heritage. Any rights are bestowed rights. Our heritage in Christ is a gift of love. Once we receive that gift, it belongs to us and we have a right to it, so long as we meet the provisions of that gift.

In any heritage, there are really two parts. There is the inheritance itself, but there is also another part that also exists from the very birth of the heir. An inheritance encompasses, among other things, the culture, values, and beliefs of our ancestors.

It is no different with our twofold heritage in Christ. We have an inheritance that we will receive at our resurrection, including eternal life. However, there is another part of that inheritance that is available to us now—a part that is not fully understood or utilized by most professing Christians.

As an assurance of our inheritance, God has imparted to us His Holy Spirit. If we could only understand what that really means, we would be empowered. It is mind boggling to imagine what could be achieved in this life if we would but fully utilize the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I fear that far too many professing Christians fall into the category described in II Timothy 3:4 "having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof."

What should we be achieving through the power of God in us? John 14:20 tells us, but most of us are simply not capable of believing that Christ is talking about us. Christ said that anyone who has faith in Him will do what He had been doing. That person will do even greater things than Christ did, because Christ is now with His Father. Somehow, I always read right over that verse. I thought He was talking about the disciples, not me.

Yes, God called the weak of the world. Yes, compared with God, we are less than nothing. Of ourselves we can do nothing, and everything we have comes from God.

However, two things happen when God gives us His Holy Spirit. First, we no longer have to do everything by ourselves, because God is in us and with God all things are possible. Second, He no longer sees us as we were, but as we will be, as if it has already happened. Once God offers us the opportunity to become His sons, He sees us as His sons. He gives us His Holy Spirit so we can begin that process of becoming His children in this life. If we wait for the resurrection, we are missing the boat.

I often read from the Phillips translation, because of its phrasing and the way it gives added life and meaning to a passage. Quoting from this translation in Romans 8, we read: "All who follow the leading of God’s Spirit are God’s own sons. Nor are you meant to relapse into the old slavish attitude of fear—you have been adopted into the very family circle of God and you can say with a full heart, Father, my Father. The Spirit itself endorses our inward conviction that we really are the children of God. Think what that means. If we are God’s own children. then we are His heirs, and all that Christ inherits will belong to all of us as well! Yes, if we share in his sufferings we shall certainly share in his glory."

To one extent or another, we have all had a stepchild mentality. It is only recently that I have come to understand the negative impact that it has had on my life. It affects our self-image, our achievements, our relationships, our health, and our impact on those around us.

It is time for us to rid ourselves of that mentality and start seeing ourselves not as we were when we were called, but as we will be at the resurrection, as if it has already happened! We have the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit at our disposal. God would not have given it to us if He had not expected us to use it. It is time that we see ourselves as sons of God and start acting as sons of God. If we have the mentality of and start acting like a true son of God, amazing things will happen. Our witness to those around us will be stronger as we serve and impart the love of Christ. We will accomplish more in our physical lives. A son of God does not accept limitations and failure, but recognizes that he has unlimited power and wisdom at his disposal.

We only have to ask. Our relationships will improve as we start to think and act on a higher plane. Our problems will not go away and we will still have to suffer as Christ did. We must remember that there are two spirits in this world. Those tuned into the spirit of God will love us and learn from our example. Those tuned into the spirit of Satan will hate us and want to destroy us. But we will have the strength, courage, and peace of mind to deal with it.

We have to overcome feeling like a stepchild. We have a long way to go. Isn’t it time that we got started? ***