The Brethren Bunch; Thoughts on Yoking

    
Spending most of my childhood in the 90s meant the popular shows of the early 70s were being rerun for parents. So while they were before my time, I did watch The Partridge Family and Little House on the Prairie. M*A*S*H continues to be one of my all-time favorites. And yes, I watched America’s favorite blended family, The Brady Bunch. You know, “the story of a lovely lady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls.” Now that I’ve successfully got the theme song stuck in your head, I’ll quickly remind you of the show’s premise: a man with three sons marries a woman with three daughters, forming a family of eight. They, along with Alice the snarky housekeeper, navigate what it means to bring two families together and face the challenges of growing up. 
    To be fair, blending issues only seem to be a major theme in the first season. The remaining four seasons hardly touch on the unique circumstances of their family. The show, though revolutionary for its time, avoided the harder, more challenging aspects of bringing two families together, painting an idealized image of what a blended family can be. As Carol once said to Bobby, “Listen, the only steps in this house are those, the ones that lead up to your bedroom” (*Every Boy Does It Once,* S1, E10).
    As we come closer to the yoking of our Springfield family with Eastwood, I’ve thought more about the reality of blending communities. It’s easy to idealize this adventure, picturing everything going as smoothly as the Bradys. But blending congregations takes more than just a hopeful spirit; it takes intentional work, patience, and grace. Each group brings its own traditions, expectations, and quirks—ham or lamb at Christmas, vacation at the mountains or the beach, how to load the dishwasher, and so on. Though we can’t avoid conflict entirely, we can plan how we will respond to it. (I will note that I, like many of you, am very excited and happy for new adventure, but let us not let excitement cloud possible realities.)
    In facing inevitable bumps in the road, we have three approaches to choose from: ignore, treat, or seek help. Not every issue requires the same level of response. We don’t take a paper cut to the ER, and we don’t ignore a nail stuck in our foot. It’s the same with any issues that arise in our yoking process. First, we ask ourselves if the issue needs attention—something minor that can be discussed with a friend, the pastor, or simply let go. For larger concerns, there are additional denominational resources to help. The important thing is that we treat issues intentionally, rather than allowing them to fester into something harmful. We must not let a small cut become a great chasm.
    How can we celebrate the God of Love and Unity if we harbor anger toward a brother or sister? How can we form a new body in Christ if we keep one another at a distance? We must approach each other with openness and honesty, offering trust to those we don’t yet know and stepping into this new venture with courage. As Peter wrote to the Christians of Asia Minor, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:7-8). After all, this isn’t the union of strangers but of brothers and sisters of the same faith.
    As Colossians 3:17 reminds us, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” By inviting the Spirit into every part of this journey—our discussions, fellowship, and worship—we’re committing to blend not only our traditions but our hearts, grounded in love and gratitude. Just as the Bradys had to learn to love, forgive, and work as one, so can we. Let’s step into this season with hope, trusting that our joined communities will flourish as one faithful family, united and strengthened by God’s grace.

​Illustrations by Mitch Miller. © 2020 Brethren Press. Used and modified by permission. 

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