How Can We Help Families In The Church Be Stronger?

How Can We Help Families In The Church Be Stronger?

Dear Bro. John:
How can we build up families in the church?
-Wilson

Dear Bro. Wilson:
Thanks for your question. Strong families are essential to the stability and success of the Lord's church. In the last 45 years our preachers and congregational leaders have placed their major emphasis on such subjects as marriage enrichment, Christian parenting, sermons on the many aspects of family life, activities for children, retreats for couples. At the same time many of them have been negligent in teaching the fundamentals of the faith and Christian living. The results have not been spectacular. Most congregations from ultra conservative to very liberal have had the sad experience of seeing many of their families weakened and some disintegrate.

We must understand the terrific pressure that families are under in our corrupt, secular society. From every direction there are powerful forces pulling family members in opposite directions. Our social standards and high cost of living pressure women to work outside the home. Some jobs demand long hours or time away from home. There is a decline of godly examples of family faithfulness and stability. There are the corrupting influences of ungodly people with whom we are forced to work or associate with in other capacities. There is the corrupting influence of movies, television, music and literature that denigrate marriage fidelity and glorify the hedonistic lifestyle. There is the terrible environment that many young people have to deal with in school. There is the subtle and insidious influence of postmodernism, a new world view that has swept through our nation that denies the fundamental values of Christianity and family. In this environment all Christians feel pressures on their lives, their families and their allegiance to Christ.

It is my observation that those who are devout, well informed Christians will have the best chance of a happy, enduring marriage and home situation. Thus to develop programs that root and ground our people in the fundamentals of the faith, that teach the necessity of personal holiness, godliness and dedication, that stress values such as fidelity and purity will result in disciples who observe those principles in their marriages. There should also be a place for the seminars on marriage and child rearing, but not to the neglect of the aforementioned things.

Lessons should be provided on the meaning of wedding vows, their sacredness and importance. Couples must take time for each other and regular time when they can have an evening away from their children. Parents should be taught to make time for activities that promote family togetherness. By all means, families should be active in all aspects of church life. They should especially make time for daily family devotions and prayers. Care should be taken by parents that their children are not allowed to "grow up" too soon. If at all possible, parents should send their children to a Christian school. Children need to be involved in the youth activities of the church. Families need to be reminded that much of the marriage counseling and family counseling offered by professionals is based on a non-Christian view of marriage and family. The same is true of many of the books offering advice in these fields. When counseling is needed, encourage folks to seek advice from strong, mature Christians. Often their homely advice will be more helpful than the secularist professional. If professional counseling is a necessity be sure they choose a Christian counselor.

Sincerely,

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