| May 10, 1998 |
Vol. I, No. 2
|
It has often been expressed that the family unit is the backbone of our nation. If that is true, then our nation’s backbone is in serious trouble. If we can strengthen our family units, if we can keep our families from falling apart, we will be helping ourselves, our families, and ultimately our communities and our nation. What are some values that will strengthen our homes and in turn help to supply stability to our nation?
1. RESPECT FOR THE SCRIPTURES as the inspired word of God. We begin here because all right thinking begins here. “For the word of the Lord is right and all His work is done in truth” (Psa. 33:4). “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
2. RESPECT FOR THE HOME as God ordained it--one man joined together with one woman for life (Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:39). Jesus allows but one exception (Matt. 19:9). We should teach and emphasize the rule more than the exception. Our homes should reflect the proper line of subjection as outlined in 1 Cor. 11:3 (1) God, (2) Christ, (3) man and (4) woman. Children in the home are to be in subjection to parents (Eph. 6:1). While we recognize that Titus 2:5 does not require a godly woman to always stay in the house, and does not necessarily forbid her to work outside the home, it does emphasize her basic responsibility a s being in the domestic realm. Whatever else she may do or not do, her husband and children should take priority. The basic family roles as given by God initially were reflected in the consequences of the sin of Adam and Eve. Adam, the “breadwinner,” was told, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread.” Eve, the “homemaker” was told, “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you” (Gen. 3:16-19). In our 20th and 21st century homes, we should seek to instill in our children the family values reflected in godly homes of an earlier age.
3. Closely related to the above is the ‘NATURAL AFFECTION” (KJV) that parents should have toward children and that children should have toward their parents (Rom. 1:31; 2 Tim. 3:3). Proper familial love will encourage parents to provide their children the necessities of life, and then some. See 1 Tim. 5:8; Matt. 7:10; 2 Cor. 12:14. It will encourage children to love, honor, respect and obey their parents (Col. 3:20; Eph. 6:1-3). Obviously, parents should behave themselves in such a way as to be worthy of that love, honor, and obedience.
4. Another factor needed in our homes and in our society is THE MORAL ETHIC. Basic honesty. Sexual purity. Respect for the life, rights and property of others (Eph. 4:28-29; 1 Cor. 6:18-19). Having been strongly influenced by the constant bombardment of evolutionary concepts, many in our society have become persuaded that humans are nothing more than refined apes on their way to becoming some other kind of animal in the distant future. Our fight to get creation taught alongside evolution in the public classroom may or may not be successful, but we can familiarize our children with God’s truth as they grow up in our own homes. We can instill in them an awareness of the innate value and sanctity of human life, more to be valued than that of any other earthly creature (Matt. 10:31; 12:12).
5. Next we note the importance of training our children with regard to THE WORK ETHIC. It is the duty and responsibility of parents in the home to impress upon our future generations the need to be productive members of society. Solomon wasn’t looking only at doctrinal matters when he wrote, “Train up a child in the way he should go.” The “way he should go” takes into consideration his natural talents and abilities. It also includes instruction and guidance in areas of attitudes, values, and occupational preparation. Parents who have not encouraged and guided their children toward their proper place in the home and in the work force have failed to train them in the way they should go.
6. Finally, we must CEASE TO ELEVATE MATERIAL WEALTH to a place of prominence. Over the past few decades many of us have become increasingly materialistic in our thinking. Jesus warned, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... for where your treasure is, there you heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21).
Spiritual values must take precedence over temporal and material considerations, and the ultimate “right” is the Divine right of God to place upon His creatures whatever requirements and restrictions He sees fit.
--CRJ
Matthew 1:18-25 tells of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, and shows how the prophet Isaiah had foretold that event more than 700 years before it came to pass. Luke also records the virgin birth of Jesus, telling us how an angel appeared to the virgin Mary and "said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God...'" He then went on to explain that she had been chosen to bring God's Son into the world. God's Son would be born of the virgin Mary.
Bible critics often try to discount the value of the accounts of Matthew and Luke, insisting that the other New Testament writers did not believe in the virgin birth, or else they also would have recorded it. Such a charge is ridiculous. No other New Testament writer makes any mention of the birth or childhood of Jesus at all, but this does not mean they thought Jesus was born full grown. The truth of the matter is that at least two other New Testament writers do bear witness to Jesus' virgin birth. John repeatedly refers to Jesus as "the only begotten Son of God." (John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9). Every time John uses this expression he proclaims the virgin birth of Jesus.
The apostle Paul also alludes to the virgin birth in Galatians 4:4, "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law..." Jesus was God's Son, born of a woman. One monumental fact of the gospel is that God loved us enough to send His own Son to die in our place, yet if Jesus is not the virgin-born Son of God, God didn't really send His own Son at all. Either Jesus is the virgin-born, only be-gotten Son of God, or else He is the illegitimate son of Joseph or some other man. The truth is that Jesus was God-sent and virgin-born -- and He fulfilled the prophecy God had made through Isaiah more than 700 years before, thus establishing both the inspiration and the accuracy of the Scriptures. Jesus Christ is the virgin-born Son of God.
--CRJ
For six months now, I've been visiting the workplaces of America, administering a simple test. I call it the "pronoun test." I ask frontline workers a few general questions about the company. If the answers I get back describe the company in terms like "they" and "them," then I know it's one kind of company. If the answers are put in terms like "we" or "us," I know it's a different kind of company.
--Robert B. Reich
[Ed. Note: How do YOU speak of the church? "We" or "they"? CRJ[
The Susquehanna church of Christ is a congregation made up of some of your friends and neighbors who believe that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). They believe God gave the Old Testament law to the Hebrew nation to list "till the Seed should come" (Gal. 3:19). After Christ came, we are no longer answerable to the commands of the Old Testament, but we must be obedient to Christ's will as recorded in the New Testament Scriptures. It is by Christ's word that we will be judged in the final judgment, John 12:48.
As Jesus was about to depart from the earth, He instructed His apostles to go into all the world and "make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded..." (Matt. 28:18-20), thus the words they spoke and wrote have the full authority of Jesus behind them. Their words are His words, and we will be judged by them.
The New Testament, written by these same apostles and prophets, serves as God's pattern for us today. He has never left His people without a pattern. He gave Noah detailed instructions for building the ark, showed Moses a pattern for the tabernacle, and gave David the plans for the temple, Gen. 6:14-16; Ex. 25:40; 1 Chron. 28:11-19. He gave us the New Testament which tells of the establishment of Christ's church, its work, organization, and doctrine. A church today that follows that pattern will be the same church we see in the Scripture, Christ's church, Matt. 16:18. If a church will not be corrected and instructed (2 Tim. 3:16-17) by the Scripture, it is not the church Jesus built, regardless of claims to apostolic succession, etc. "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it...: (Psalm 127:1).
--CRJ