The Eclectic Evangelical-Arlene Bridges Samuels : Spiritual DNA

A few years ago my sister gave me an especially thoughtful gift; an Ancestry DNA kit. Getting my results confirmed most of my already-known ancestry yet I was a little startled when I discovered a percentage of Scandinavian heritage in my DNA results.

I knew my roots included Irish, Scots, and British ancestry since my patriarchal family tree allowed me to become a member of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). My “patriot ancestor” arrived on our shores prior to our fight for independence. Thanks to science DNA tools have opened many mysterious doors into the past for millions of people shining a light on DNA which holds our genetic information.

Yet, even with this fascinating tool, our spiritual DNA holds much more; the treasured key of eternal life. It’s a DNA forged in God’s infinite imagination when He created physical life “in the beginning.”

He also wove our spiritual DNA into a redemptive pattern of salvation that includes the 66 books of the Bible and culminates in the Incarnation when Jesus donned our human DNA to walk, teach, die, rise again, and return to His Heavenly Father as our advocate.

It didn’t take ANCESTRY to identify Jesus’ DNA. We have the reliable source in the greatest book ever written, the Bible. Transmitted by the Creator of DNA itself through Jewish scribes, the Bible brilliantly captivated with the “greatest story ever told.” God’s human entrance into the world came through Mary, a young Jewish mother. Her human Jewish DNA was met with the most profound anomaly in human history from God the Father.

Our story as Gentile Christians is enhanced by embracing God’s choice to use Jewish people to transmit our spiritual DNA. Jewish patriarchs, Jewish scribes, a Jewish mother and Jewish disciples set the stage to welcome and crown our Jewish Savior. When we encounter Jesus, it is humbling, remarkable, rich in overwhelming love, and eternal. Truly more than our human DNA can comprehend!

One other truth and benefit of spiritual DNA is that our family tree is enormous. It stretches around the world across cultures, colors, economic status, national boundaries, and backgrounds. That means that my Christian family here in the United States includes a potpourri of Americans in many denominations. Add to the mix Europeans, Africans, Asians, Persians, Muslim background believers, Jewish background believers who provide patterns from a tapestry of Christian cultures on our earth giving me access to fellowship through travel and translators.

When He ascended to Heaven, Jesus took the role of Advocate for us with our Heavenly Father. And He bequeathed us a bonus; He provided His Holy Spirit to give us counsel and comfort in our lives here on earth. #AncestryInventedByGod

A Tapestry of Churches

A splendid tapestry of churches has ripened my faith with fruit from many good trees; as a missionary with Mercy Ships in a crew I describe as a "Christian United Nations," and also living in Switzerland and Romania-plus moving around the United States.

Growing up, my Southern Baptist church laid my foundation built with singing the great hymns of the church, where to locate books of the Bible, and scripture memory. Through my youth group, I encountered the Lord in a personal way on July 31, 1963.

Presbyterians fed me at a buffet of Protestant theologians especially my favorite one, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and emphasized God’s sovereignty.

In The Episcopal Church, I waded into two different streams, one liturgical and the other charismatic. In the liturgical "high" Episcopal church, I feasted at the Eucharist each week and navigated the ups and downs of kneeling. In the charismatic Episcopal church, I connected more deeply with the Holy Spirit, finding freedom to raise my hands in joyful worship. As a member of a black church on then-small Hilton Head Island, the pastor and choir fed me with vibrant songs and eloquent sermons.

Living in Switzerland, we enjoyed worshipping with other ex-pats in the Church of Scotland. During our eight years with Mercy Ships, the world's largest private Christian hospital ship, we sailed the seas with a crew from 35 nations-among them South Sea Islanders who introduced us to their lovely, worshipful dances. On the mission field living in Romania, my senses delighted in the Romanian Orthodox Church replete with incense and gilded, intricate altars.

In a non-denominational church with contemporary music, I engaged with believers from varied church backgrounds and joined a small group. At the Church of God, I worshipped in a Pentecostal setting in a distinctly pro-Israel denomination that displayed the American and Israeli flags. Belongling to a small Anglican church I relished liturgy, weekly Eucharist, missions outreach to Rwanda, and acoustic guitars.

Transferring from small Anglican to big Baptist, I have reconnected with my chidlhood biblical roots where I feast on hymns sung by an outstanding choir and orchestra, an excellent Sunday School class, bible-focused sermons, and a prolific domestic and international missions focus. Last but not least, the Jewish community and expert Hebraic roots teachers have opened a door of deeper understanding that Judaism nurtured Christianity in an ancient cradle rich with commandments, festivals, wisdom, poetry, patriarchs, prophets, and Older and New Testaments. Significantly, learning more about Jewish culture and Christianity's Jewish roots has deepened a richer relationship with my Savior, a Jewish Rabbi. I've received an extraordinary gift as a non-Jew grafted into the branches of the ancient Jewish tree connecting me to Israel, my spiritual homeland. .

I invite you to walk with me through a lifetime of adventures reflecting a tapestry of faith that I hope will encourage you in your journey to discover extraordinary beauty and limitless fulfillment of our Christian faith.

In Him we hope, Arlene

Spiritual DNA

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