 The Family According to God
Posted by steve on Tuesday, August 15 2006
NOTE: I wrote this article back in 2002, but I believe it applies more today than ever. If we don't get things under control within our own families - our society is in big trouble!
With the shooting in a downtown Atlanta highrise where nine lives were taken,preceded by two police officers being gunned down, and a family of six being murdered, not to mention the local school shooting coupled with the Columbine tragedy in Colorada there is no doubt that the evil one is taking his tow on our society.
All kinds of solutions are being served up including armed guards and metal detectors in schools. I admire anyone for trying to find a solution to all this madness, but personally like the old song says, I think we're looking in all "the wrong places." If the water pump or radiator in your car is leaking, you might add a product referred to as stop-leak. This product may slow the leak, it may even stop the leak for a while, but I assure you the leak will return. The only sure thing that will stop the leak is a change of the component.
The reason there is so much evil in the world today is because Godly morals have been leaking from the hearts of men, women and children. The only sure thing that will stop all of this madness is a change of heart. We can keep adding stop-leak, but sooner or later the heart is going to completely play out. If we are going to fix the problems facing the world today, THE FAMILY ACCORDING TO GOD is going to have to be restored. A family where Godly morals are taught, modeled and lived.
In 1947, sociologist and historian Carle Zimmerman, recorded his keen observations as he compared the disintegration of various cultures with the parallel decline of family life in those cultures. Eight specific patterns of domestic behavior typified the downward spiral of each culture Zimmerman studied.
- Marriage loses its sacredness.
- Marriages are broken by divorce.
- Traditional meaning of the marriage ceremony is lost.
- Feminist movements abound.
- Increased public disrespect for parents and authority in general.
- Acceleration of juvenile delinquency, promiscuity, and rebellion.
- Couples in traditional marriages refuse to accept family responsibilities.
- Growing desire for and acceptance of adultery.
- Increasing interest in sexual perversions and sex-related crimes.
There is a very good reason for the hierarchy that God has established for His kingdom. Without it, the disintegration of the family is imminent.
According to God's divine order, no man should wear a sign of subordination to any other man while he was praying or worshiping. You see, there is only one mediator between man and God -- and that is Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul says that Jesus is a man's covering. In the same divine order, the covering for the female is the male.
The divine order of masculinity and femininity involves differing functions which require hierarchies of authority. Man functions as a leader, protector, and provider. The woman functions as mother, helper, and supporter. And this in no way means one is superior or inferior to the other!
My family and I served thirteen years In the United States Air Force. In order for any branch of the military to operate successfully as a balanced machine there have to be many levels of authority. For example: Airman, A1C, Senior Airman, Sgt, Staff Sgt, Tech Sgt, etc. There are many people serving on each level. For example: You may have several SSgt's -- neither really outranking the other, but each having an area of responsibility. One may even have a leadership role and the other may be more of an assistant, but the job wouldn't get done without both doing their job. If both tried to do the same job -- who would take care of the unattended responsibilities? And if jealousy occurred because of the struggle for control, then confusion concerning each persons responsibility would soon destroy the balance.
In God's divine order, when the male starts trying to do the females job and the female starts trying to do the males job -- it throws the whole order out of balance and failure is imminent. This doesn't mean that the man should arbitrarily make decisions without consulting his female partner, but it does mean that the husband is the final authority and leader of the family.
There is a story about a pastor whose young son had become very ill. After the boy had undergone an exhaustive series of tests, the father was told the shocking news that his son had a terminal illness. The youngster had accepted Christ as his Savior, so the minister knew that death would usher him into Glory; but he wondered how to inform one in the bloom of youth that he soon would die. After earnestly seeking the direction of the Holy Spirit, he went with a heavy heart through the hospital ward to the boy's bedside. First he read a passage of Scripture and had a time of prayer with his dear child. Then he gently told him that the doctors could promise him only a few more days to live. "Are you afraid to meet Jesus, my boy?" asked his devout father. Blinking away a few tears, the little fellow said bravely, "No, not if He's like you, Dad!"
Fathers need to be leaders and examples of Godly morals. In Ephesians 6:4 we're told, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." The scripture is very clear, we are given specific Biblical instructions as Fathers to bring our children up in the training and instruction of the Lord. If we fail in that responsibility, who will take our place?
In Isaiah 49:15a we're told, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?" Again, the scripture is clear, If mothers forsake their God-given responsibilities resulting from competition for family dominance, who will take their place?
If we are going to get rid of the evil in our world today, it has to start with the family. We have to accept our God-given roles as men, women, mothers and fathers. We have to ensure the Spiritual condition of the family. We have to truly be THE FAMILY ACCORDING TO GOD.
Copyright © 2002 Steve L. Pelfrey
Permission is granted to copy and distribute this article in its entirety except for sale or publication and may not to be altered in any way.
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