1 Timothy 5:8
English Standard Version
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
New American Standard Bible
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
King James Bible
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
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I am in agreement with the above translations from the original Koine Greek. I believe in supporting family as an aspect of being a biblical \Christian.
Prior to the Boss having reasoning problems, and then being diagnosed with dementia with significant diminished mental capacity, the Boss and I had a verbal agreement. Once I had earned my PhD and had related employment, that it was best that I move on. The Boss repeated this several times over the years.
I still hold to this agreement as likely being within the perfect will of God, or at least the preferred will of God. At the same time, I still reason that 1 Timothy 1 5:8 applies.
Within this ethical dilemma, I need to both honour and take care of my Mother and as well pursue travel for ministry/employment.
Less obviously, but also very importantly for my overall development as a person in Christ, I need to travel. Some of my significant spiritual highlights and insights in life have come from travel. It is a key aspect of my Christian faith and philosophy.
For example:
In 1976, as a small child, I toured Scotland (Especially), England, and Western Europe with my family. My brother and I sneaked into castles, for free. The Christian history, the good and bad and the ugly, of the State-Church; the beautiful buildings and the persecution and torture of some citizens, impacted me very much in eventually studying the bible, theology, philosophy and philosophy of religion at an academic level.
My later trip back to the United Kingdom and Ireland in 1995 had similar impact; but this time I was a graduated bible school student, heading to Baptist seminary, back in British Columbia, and I was influenced to pursue a European/British theses only PhD. Which, by God's will, I accomplished at Manchester, for a brief undocumented stay, and then eventually at Wales.
For me a trip abroad is never primarily about 'lying on a beach' or like, it is also life learning.
It is practical theology, even when it includes touring and football. Friends and family are primary when travelling.
Next week, I have ministry/employment training in the Toronto area. Fraser Health covers the personal care for the Boss with five visits a day, but our Strata does not allow a lock box or a key, for a care worker to enter. Some of my fellow apartment owners need to let a worker in to the building to assist the Boss. As I have noted on Satire Und Theology, this process does not always go well, due to some unhappy owners that need to press 6 on his/her phone while lifting up the receiver.
The Boss is bedridden and was born disabled. The Boss needs professional help with personal care, but is also dead-set against being placed into any kind of institution. I also, for some of the reasons mentioned, am firmly committed to work and travel with the PhD the Lord placed in my mind and heart, and guided me to accomplish.
As the local President of my ministry/employment stated to me: (Paraphrased).
As if you should stay home the rest of your life and not work.
Correct. May the Lord provide solutions to this ethical dilemma.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 2014
What is common to the two well-known cases is conflict. In each case, an agent regards herself as having moral reasons to do each of two actions, but doing both actions is not possible. Ethicists have called situations like these moral dilemmas.
Note, I prefer the terms ethical (external) dilemma to moral (internal) dilemma.
