If you have read the Old Testament you’ve probably come across the term “clan.” It is an ancient term meaning a unit of multiple families within a tribe. For example, after Israel’s defeat at Ai, Joshua went on a systematic search to discover who sinned. The 12 tribes were brought before him and Judah was taken. The clans of Judah were brought and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. The leaders of the Zerahite families were brought near and Zabdi was taken. Finally, Achan was identified as the one who sinned. Tribes are formed from clans which are formed from families which are formed from individuals.
You’re saying, “Okay, Irv, nice history lesson but what does that have to do with me and my family today?” Much. We live in a culture in America that values independence and autonomy. Our families are single units spinning in their own orbits each with children, jobs, friends, churches, etc. It is rare that families from the same lineage connect on anything more than a superficial level. Now friends rather than family have become the “go to” answer to meeting needs. The trouble is friends come and go but family stays. I think the clan could be the answer to the growing needs of families.
Why? Why would we form clans today? I grant you that this is the ideal but consider what clans could do for their families. They could support the other families within the clan. If one family loses a job, the clan could provide income, emotional support, and leads for another job. No reliance on friends or the government for support, the clan could do that. If one family was going through legal problems, the clan could be there to provide wise counsel and support. If a marriage was struggling, the clan could be there to support, provide wise counsel, and encourage the couple. If a family member was struggling with an addiction, the clan could be there to intervene. The clan could become a vital resource for its families.
How can we begin to develop a “clan mentality?” We need to think bigger than our own individual families. We need to be asking, “How can we connect our families to better support one another?” Some suggestions might be to meet regularly with the heads of the families for a clan leader’s meeting. Another would be to encourage the families to prioritize time together at holidays and birthdays. A third suggestion is to have an annual retreat, reunion, or campout which all the families prioritize and attend. The next step is to teach clan thinking to the family leaders so they can teach their spouses and children. Family leaders need to understand the value of a clan and embrace the idea. The final step is to put into practice resourcing families such that the clan becomes the first call for help from families when needs arise.
Clans are both biblical and counter-cultural,
Irv