In 1969, The Brady Bunch hit television screens across America and became an instant cultural phenomenon. Maybe you’ve seen it—whether during its original airing or in the countless reruns since. The show followed the lives of Carol, a widow, and Mike, a widower, as they brought their children together to form a blended family.
Their challenges were relatable: sibling rivalry, adjusting to new parents, and learning to live with each other. But beneath the chaos, there was a picture of hope, love, and perseverance—a family that, despite its complexities, managed to thrive.
Today, blended families are far more common. In fact, 40% of marriages now involve at least one partner who has been married before (Revealing Divorce Statistics In 2024 – Forbes Advisor), and 16% of children live in households with a stepparent or half-sibling (Blended Family Statistics: A Deeper Look Into the Structure | LoveToKnow). Blended families are not just a cultural trend; they’re a reality in many of our lives. They might even describe your family.
But while blended families are increasingly common, they face unique challenges that traditional families often don’t. And it’s these challenges that the church must address—because God’s Word speaks to all families, traditional or otherwise.
How God Views Blended Families
So, how does God view blended families? And more importantly, what does Scripture say about them? The truth is, blended families aren’t a modern invention—they’re found throughout the Bible, and they remind us that God works through all kinds of family dynamics.
Think of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth, a Moabite widow, married Boaz and formed a new family. This union would eventually lead to the lineage of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Himself. God used this blended family as part of His redemptive plan for humanity.
Then, there’s Abraham’s family. Abraham tried to blend Sarah and Isaac with Hagar and Ishmael—a situation that caused tension and required God’s intervention. But God didn’t abandon either family; He blessed both women and their sons. And despite the complexity, His promises were fulfilled.
Jacob’s family is another prime example. He had children with multiple wives, which naturally brought tension and rivalry into the household. Yet God still used that family to establish the twelve tribes of Israel, demonstrating that even in the midst of dysfunction, His purposes prevail.
Even the New Testament gives us examples of blended families. Timothy, a key leader in the early church, was raised by his mother and grandmother—evidence that God uses families of all shapes and sizes to carry out His mission.
And, of course, we can’t forget Jesus’ own family. Though born of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was raised by His adoptive father, Joseph, and had at least four stepbrothers (Matt 13:55) and at least two stepsisters (v.56). If anyone understands the complexities of a blended family, it’s our Lord!
These biblical examples remind us that God is deeply involved in every family’s story—whether it’s traditional or blended. He doesn’t turn away from brokenness or complexity. In fact, He works through it, often bringing beauty out of broken situations.
The Challenges Blended Families Face
But let’s not sugarcoat it—blended families face significant practical challenges. In fact, statistics show that 60-70% of remarriages involving children end in divorce (Blended Family Statistics: A Deeper Look Into the Structure | LoveToKnow). That tells us something important: blending two families isn’t easy. Relationships with children, ex-spouses, and new spouses can be complicated.
Some of the most common challenges include:
Introducing a New Partner: How do you help your children accept a new parent figure? It’s not always easy. Children may resist or even reject the new family structure altogether.
Parenting and Discipline: When one parent isn’t the biological parent, discipline can be tricky to navigate. How do you balance authority and love? And what happens when an ex-spouse is still involved, especially if they don’t share your faith or parenting philosophy?
Grief and Loss: Many blended families are formed after a divorce or the death of a spouse. Some family members may still be grieving or missing someone. How do you bond with a new spouse while also addressing your children’s emotional needs and pain?
Judgment and Disapproval: On top of these internal challenges, blended families may also face judgment or disapproval from extended family or even the church.
These are very real struggles, but they’re not beyond God’s help. As the church, we need to be a place where these challenges can be acknowledged and addressed with grace and compassion.
The Church’s Role: Grace and Truth
So, what role should the church play in supporting blended families?
In John 4, we read the story of the woman at the well. She had been married five times and was now living with a man who wasn’t her husband. When Jesus met her, He didn’t condemn her. Instead, He offered her “living water”—a new beginning full of forgiveness and grace.
Jesus didn’t ignore her past, but He didn’t let it define her either. He extended both grace and truth. And that’s exactly what the church needs to do for blended families today.
We must hold to God’s standard for marriage, but we must also extend grace to those who have experienced brokenness. It’s not an either/or situation. Jesus was the embodiment of both grace and truth, and as His followers, we must do the same.
God’s Model for Marriage
God’s design for marriage is clear. In Genesis 2:24, we read, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Jesus Himself affirms this model in Matthew 19:6, saying, “What God has joined together, let no one separate.”
From these passages, we can define marriage as the intentional joining of one man and one woman in a lifelong covenant relationship for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family.
This is the model. This is the truth. But we also know that sin has broken many marriages and families. That’s where grace comes in.
Grace in Brokenness
When sin entered the world, it fractured relationships. We see this clearly in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve’s disobedience led to separation from God and tension in their relationship. But even then, God pursued them. He didn’t abandon them. He called out to them and covered their shame, restoring them to Himself.
This same grace covers broken marriages, broken families, and broken people. It’s the grace that Jesus demonstrated when He stepped down from heaven, took on human flesh, and bore the weight of our sin on the cross. This is grace in action.
As a church, we must be a place of grace. Every person, no matter their background or family situation, is made in God’s image and is deeply loved by Him. We all experience brokenness in different ways, and none of us perfectly lives out God’s design. That’s why the Gospel is such good news! It offers hope, healing, and restoration to all of us—whether we’re in a traditional family, a blended family, or somewhere in between.
The Call to Love and Serve
So, let’s be a church that embodies both truth and grace. Let’s love and serve families—whether they’re traditional or blended—with compassion and understanding. Just as Jesus sought out the hurting and broken, we too must seek out those who are walking through the challenges of blending a family.
After all, Jesus didn’t come to condemn but to offer life and freedom. And wherever you are in your family journey, His invitation is open. Come to Him and experience the fullness of His grace and truth.
And let’s live out that message in our families, our church, and our community.
Two helpful sources for stepfamilies to reference are Ron L. Deal, "Preparing to Blend" or his other book "The Smart Stepfamily."
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