Your Family Tree AN AMAZING FACT: The family tree of Confucius has been maintained for more than 2,500 years and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest existing family tree. Genealogy is one of the fastest-growing hobbies in North America. More and more people are fascinated in tracing their roots back as far as they can. Are you related to royalty, or were your ancestors horse thieves? Some people want to carve out a place for their family in history. Others want to preserve history and story for their relatives and children. Still others are motivated by religious reasons. Your ability to trace your ancestors has exploded with the use of the Internet and computer software. You can even hire a professional genealogist to do research for you. A new field of study that has recently opened is genetic analysis, as your DNA gets passed down from your ancestors with relatively little change. Two people can have a DNA test to determine if they are related within an estimated number of generations. The Confucius Genealogy Compilation Committee is the group that has collected, collated, and published the 2,500 years worth of data. It was most recently printed in 2009. The previous printing was in 1930. Kong Deyong, a 77th generation descendant set up the committee and began work in 1998. Several volumes cover almost 80 generations and list over two million members. Paul warned Titus, “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless” (Titus 3:9). Some people were motivated to pursue family trees in order to give themselves status. This false sense of importance created divisions in the church and was harmful to unity in the body of Christ. As Christians, our status in Christ makes us children of God (1 John 3:1), and there is no greater position than knowing your true Father. KEY BIBLE TEXTS As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, - 1 Timothy 1:3 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. - 1 Timothy 1:4
Posted on: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 12:51:33 +0000
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