By Thad Williams, Missions and Community Engagement Pastor
Each year when Halloween rolls around, I always enjoy watching The Addams Family. At some level, we can all identify with this weird family. Who doesn't have a crazy Uncle Fester?
The Addams Family is the antithesis of American family values. They're creepy, and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky; they're altogether ooky (you know the rest) and yet, when we look past the spooky and ooky, we find that the Addams are actually a great example of Christian family values and what it means to be the church.
Now, I know what you are thinking... "Has this guy lost his mind?!" Just stay with me for a moment.
According to Charles Addams, the creator of The Addams Family, which first appeared in 1938 as a cartoon comic in The New Yorker, the fictional family was to be a "satirical inversion" of the ideal American household. When The Addams Family became a sitcom in the 1960s, it offered a stark contrast to the other shows depicting family values at that time, such as The Brady Bunch and Leave it to Beaver. Oh sure, that's exactly what life is like... said no one ever!
So, what can the family of God (the church) learn from The Addams Family?
We can draw several parallels between these two families. For example, the Addams have their own beliefs and traditions that differ from mainstream culture. Their lifestyle is considered strange and different, often resulting in them being marginalized. The Addams Family are truly "set apart."
To be sure, the Addams are an imperfect family, but they are by no means pretentious. They have a deep sense of identity and do not try to be something they are not. The Addams are in the world but not of the world. Although they engage with and contribute to their community, they do not conform to the culture, nor do they allow social norms to change who they are.
The Addams Family actively shares their lifestyle, and they do not inflict it on others. They also embrace people who are different from them. Through generosity and hospitality, they accept people for who they are and welcome "outsiders" into their lives without judgment. What's more, being accepted into the Addams Family does not mean giving up individuality.
We can also learn a lot from the family dynamic of Addams. I mean, seriously... who loves and adores their wife more than Gomez? Dare I say that he loves Morticia sacrificially, just as Christ loves the church. At the same time, Morticia is not limited in her role as mother and wife. She is able to be a strong woman while also being a submissive wife. Faithful to both her husband and family, Morticia is fiercely maternal while allowing her children to keep their independence. Rather than trying to shelter them from the world, they encourage their kids to explore their interests and discover who they are while also providing guidance and direction. Even when it comes to uncomfortable topics such as sex, there is an openness and honesty between the parents and children. How refreshing!
It is heartbreaking to see the church today facing so much criticism. However, I think it is fair to say that we have brought a lot of it upon ourselves through our words and actions (or lack thereof). Of course, we are not perfect, and we still live in a fallen, broken world in which we continuously fall short of the glory of God. But perhaps we need to be more like the Addams Family. In a world full of hate, there is certainly something very attractive about a lifestyle of love, acceptance, generosity, and hospitality. Maybe, just maybe... the church could use a little more weird and kooky.
