In the following series of Q&As, we will be setting forth comments for and against the divine institution of the godly-ordained family. It should come as no surprise that we wholeheartedly support and agree with the concept that marriage is between a man and a woman, and that the Christian family consists of such a union together with their child or children. We will be quoting opinions and statements from articles and books advocating this concept, and also those arguing against it, thereby showing how far our societies have departed from the mind of the living God of the Bible.
At the same time, we may not agree with those who, even though they support the traditional family, may advance ideas as to how, in their opinion, such a family should be functioning. We may agree with some or many of those concepts, but we may disagree with others, and we did not take the time to explain in each and every circumstance where we might disagree, even though we have, at times, added a “disclaimer” or further information. In any event, none of the quoted opinions should be viewed as including an endorsement on our part as to how the traditional family ought to live and behave, except when quoting Scriptures backing up those concepts. We are citing many published opinions, however, to show the discrepancy between those who advocate the institution of the traditional and godly-ordained family on the one hand, and the fight against the biblical family on the other hand, in trying to either replace it completely with totally ungodly “alternatives”, or to at least water it down by allowing such alternative lifestyles and representing them as being of equal or maybe even superior value.
When quoting opinions as to how to conduct a godly-ordained family, you will find that on numerous occasions, human thinking and reasoning is expressed, without biblical backup. Even though such reasoning might be acceptable and even applaudable in some cases, it might not be on other occasions. To give a pertinent example, you will find that some believing in the godly-ordained family propose that the husband must be the sole breadwinner, while the mother must stay at home to take care of their children. While this concept is desirable and might have been workable decades or centuries ago, it is most certainly not an option in many, if not most situations today. Many families—except for the rich and super rich—would not be able to financially survive with following such a proposal. But more importantly, it does not find support in the Bible. If we consider the biblical concept of a family, and how it should function, we find that the father and the son worked together in the field or in the occupation of the father. The children would not be sent away to be taught in school. Rather, the children would be taught at home by the parents or perhaps in the case of more wealthy families, by tutors coming to the home. However, in just about every quote trying to establish how a Christian family should function, these concepts and standards have been overlooked.
Today, even though we may have the concept of home-schooling in some countries, it is not permitted in other countries. And where it is permitted, parents—especially mothers, since the father is working “outside”—might not find themselves in a situation to be able to do so, nor is the home-schooling curriculum with provided textbooks in far too many cases seldom in harmony with biblical injunctions and teachings. In any event, unless both parents work from home, none of this reflects the standard as to how children were raised in biblical times. Satan has managed to create societies where, at first, the father leaves the home to go to work, then the children are sent away to school for most of the day where they are being indoctrinated with false teachings, and then the mother also leaves the home to pursue an outside career. Parents—father and mother alike—need to take the time to counteract what their children are being “taught” in school when it is in opposition to God’s Way of Life.
Still, the articles are quoted herein, pro and con, to show the confusion in our societies as to what a godly-ordained family is, and the degree to which our societies, ruled by Satan and his demons, have gradually, step by step, alienated the children from the parents, and vice versa. It is therefore incumbent upon all of us, while reading the following Q&As, to consider how we can, to the best of our abilities, fulfill our roles as parents and children, in pursuance of godly principles and directives.
There is no question that the traditional family is under attack today.
One-parent households, cohabitation without being married, same-sex families, and voluntary childless young couples are increasingly common while the traditional family, as designed by God, is in decline.
In our weekly Update #698, dated July 24, 2015, we had a Q&A, entitled, “What is a Family?” and we will quote briefly from this:
“The Creator God Who created man in His own image gave a blueprint in His instruction manual for mankind in order to enjoy life and live happily. The general definition of a family used to be ‘A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children.’ We must further add that those parents should be married as the Bible clearly teaches that ‘living together’ without being married is sin. There are many verses in the Bible that condemn fornication (see 1 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; and many other references).
“‘The Christian Home’ is the sub-heading of Colossians 3:18-21, showing the duties and responsibilities of family members, wives, husbands and children: ‘Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.’
“One on-line commentator made these observations: ‘All Christians believe families are important. Many Christians believe that the family is the best place for having, and raising children. They believe God intended the family to be a place where children can be raised in a loving and supportive environment. They also believe parents should raise their children to learn about, and believe in God. The love that family members show to each other, should show how much God loves everyone. Many Christians believe that parents play an important role in showing their children, and non-family members, how much God loves and cares for them.
“The family, as correctly defined, is vital to a healthy society today.”
There are those today who seek to eliminate the family as we have known it and as God instructed.
To give a most recent example, Breitbart reported on December 24, 2023:
“A Catholic parish in southern Italy has exhibited a Nativity scene featuring the Virgin Mary together with another woman in place of Saint Joseph. Father Vitaliano Della Sala, the pastor of the parish of Saints Peter and Paul in the southern province of Avellino, said he created the provocative crèche scene to underscore the changing shape of families and the need for a more inclusive Church. I placed ‘two mothers in the crèche,’ Father Della Sala wrote on Facebook. ‘This year I see the light of Christmas also shining on these families affected by inhuman and anti-evangelical criticism and condemnation.’ There are ‘so many ways of being a family’ because ‘nothing is impossible with God!’ he said.”
This decision has drawn sharp reactions from Catholics in Italy, as has the decision of Pope Francis to bless same-sex couples. The former head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, called the decision “blasphemous” (Newsmax, dated December 22, 2023), and Franklin Graham wrote that “none of us, including the Pope, has the right to ‘bless’ what God calls sin” (Newsmax, dated December 21, 2023). It was also stated that one cannot bless something which is sinful, as blessings are restricted to something which is good. Still, we can see from these examples how far our societies and churches are willing to go to attack the divine concept of a godly-ordained marriage.
The following Q&As will look at the attacks on the family, and will also review those who fully support this God-given institution. We know and understand that Satan is the “god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4) and “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2), and that his broadcasting and evil influence permeates every strata of society in every part of the world. We must never underestimate what Satan and his demons can achieve.
Our member letter of February 2023 included these comments: “Deception has been rampant in various shapes and forms for mankind since the time that Satan deceived Eve. Satan’s manipulation influenced the judgment of Eve. He blatantly lied to her, leading her to believe that it was a good thing to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Her choice in believing Satan demonstrates a form of deception that is very direct and intentional. His motive was to tell her a lie and cause her to disobey the commandment from God.”
Satan’s involvement with the race of man since the dawn of civilization has been relentless and, as he knows, his time is short. His relentlessness is aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at the people of God, and in Revelation 12:9, he is noted as “the one who deceives the whole world.”
(To be continued)
Lead Writers: Norbert Link and Brian Gale (United Kingdom)
