Edward
talks about the baby with near religious devotion, and Bella’s inner dialogue
shows a new mother’s love. Becoming a parent is a huge life change, even if you
aren’t a vampire. Children displace part of our selfishness. We are required to
care for another person, and our love for this child drives us to protect,
encourage and correct. It is difficult
to describe the bond between a parent and child. You may have known a great
love from your own parents. Maybe you learned more about hate and abuse from
the parental figures in your life. Each of us has an experience with parents,
whether we have children of our own or not.
Paul gave
some instructions for parents in Ephesians 6:1-4. In this text, children are commanded to obey
their parents for it brings good results like a good, long life. Then fathers
are instructed to refrain from provoking their children into anger and lead
them to Christ. We love as parents and children as God has loved us. His love
is genuine. Similar to the text about marriage in Ephesians 5:22-33, Paul again
uses Christ as the ultimate authority and our example for love. Parenting
requires humility, patience, tolerance and love – all traits described in
Ephesians 4. If we are being filled with the Holy Spirit, then it will reflect
in our marriages and in our parenting.
In Breaking
Dawn, the challenges of parenting become even tougher when the Volturi are
informed of Renesmee’s existence. Alice and Jasper mysteriously disappear, but
friends begin to arrive at the Cullen house. Through each of them, we learn a
new way that the Volturi has abused its power and hurt innocent people. These
evil leaders and their subordinates have a lack of respect and love for others.
They drive for more power out of a lustful greed. The Volturi are prejudiced
about their way of living, thinking it is the best and only way. This Italian
mob is similar to those who enslave other people today. When we lack a value
for human life, we will use and abuse others for our own gain.
Slavery was a common practice when Paul wrote
the book of Ephesians. In fact, many Christians owned slaves. Ephesians 6:5-9
holds some instructions for slaves and masters. Paul addresses the slaves
first, which shows his respect for this segment of people. He commands the
slaves to serve as Christ would do in the same situation. Then, he commands the
masters to treat these Christian slaves like brothers and sisters in Christ. He
reminds both groups that they have the same master who makes no distinction
between them. With these few verses, Paul essentially transforms slavery for
Christians.15 If one is following what is commanded in Ephesians,
how can one keep a brother or sister in Christ as a slave?
We experience people today who act like the
Volturi. These people think they know everything and their way of life is the
superior option. These people look down on others and even bully those who are
different than them. These people mock those who show compassion and love to
outsiders. Maybe you know somebody like this. Maybe it’s you. What people
groups disgust you? How we treat people is in direct correlation with our
relationship with God. If we have experienced the forgiveness of the Father and
been transformed by the Holy Spirit, then we will treat others as Christ would
do. Earlier in Ephesians, we learned that the community of Christ requires
mutual respect and submission to each other. God’s love is gracious. We as
Christians should be known for how well we love others, not by how much we hate
them. Prejudice should not be a part of the community in Christ.