The Family
The human family is a concept conceived and defined by the Creator of the Universe-God. It is naturally inherent to be composed of a man and a woman which then bring forth offspring to further populate the earth.
Gen.1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
This is the clear command of God as seen in the admonition from Paul to Titus and Timothy regarding electing elders (leaders) in the church.
Titus 1:5 ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. And in 1Tim.3: 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Societies that have promoted and protected the family unit have prospered and those that did not protect the family, rose and fell.1
Focus on the Family has stated:2, 3
“Marriage is the only human institution that uniquely interweaves our private needs with the
public need for commitment to the next generation. The tapestry of a society will be only as
strong as the pattern of its threads. Marriage between a man and woman must be celebrated and
supported by communities, families and individuals who depend upon it.”
"An extensive body of research tells us that children do best when they grow up with both
biological parents in a low-conflict marriage... Thus, it is not simply the presence of two
parents, as some have assumed, but the presence of two biological parents that seem to support
child development."
1 The Minoan, Greek, and Roman cultures are examples of cultures that did not maintain a respect for the family.
2 http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/marriage/teach-your-children-about-marriage/woven-together
3 http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/marriage/teach-your-children-about-marriage/30-years-of-research.
Kerby Anderson commented in 2009 “Decline of the Family”4
“What about the moral decline of Rome? Do we see parallels in America? I have addressed this in previous articles such as ‘The Decline of a Nation’ and ‘When Nations Die.’ Let’s focus on the area of sexuality, marriage, and family.
In his 1934 book, Sex and Culture, British anthropologist Joseph Daniel Unwin chronicled the historical decline of numerous cultures, including the Roman Empire. He found that cultures that held to a strong sexual ethic thrived and were more productive than cultures that were ‘sexually free.’
In his book Our Dance Has Turned to Death, Carl Wilson identifies the common pattern of family decline in civilizations like the Roman Empire. It is significant how these seven stages parallel what is happening in America.
In the first stage, men ceased to lead their families in worship. Spiritual and moral development became secondary. Their view of God became naturalistic, mathematical, and mechanical.
In the second stage, men selfishly neglected care of their wives and children to pursue material wealth, political and military power, and cultural development. Material values began to dominate thought.
The third stage involved a change in men’s sexual values. Men who were preoccupied with business or war either neglected their wives sexually or became involved with lower-class women or with homosexuality. Ultimately, a double standard of morality developed.
The fourth stage affected women. The role of women at home and with children lost value and status. Women were neglected and their roles devalued. Soon they revolted to gain access to material wealth and also freedom for sex outside marriage. Women also began to minimize having sex relations to conceive children, and the emphasis became sex for pleasure.
In the fifth stage, husbands and wives competed against each other for money, home leadership, and the affection of their children. This resulted in hostility and frustration and possible homosexuality in the children. Many marriages ended in separation and divorce.
In the sixth stage, selfish individualism grew and carried over into society, fragmenting it into smaller and smaller group loyalties. The nation was thus weakened by internal conflict. The decrease in the birthrate produced an older population that had less ability to defend itself and less will to do so, making the nation more vulnerable to its enemies.
Finally, unbelief in God became more complete, parental authority diminished, and ethical and moral principles disappeared, affecting the economy and government. Because of internal weakness and fragmentation, the society came apart.”
4 https://www.probe.org/rome-and-america/
We can see these stages play out in the decline of the Roman Empire. But we can also see them happening before our eyes in America.”
But, we live in a corrupted world where many families have been fragmented. The
number of single parent families in the United States presently is about 27%.5 The
Bible has an answer for this problem:
1 Tim. 5:3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day...6 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Thus, in a society where the family and marriage is honored, there will be stability and a stable environment to raise the next generation which further stabilizes society.
In the Images above several principles regarding family are portrayed:
2 Tim.3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth...2 Tim.4 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
In Conclusion: Let us do all that we can to preserve the family unit for our sakes and for our societies well being and for future generations. For the family unit is a concept born out of the will of God.
The human family is a concept conceived and defined by the Creator of the Universe-God. It is naturally inherent to be composed of a man and a woman which then bring forth offspring to further populate the earth.
Gen.1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
This is the clear command of God as seen in the admonition from Paul to Titus and Timothy regarding electing elders (leaders) in the church.
Titus 1:5 ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. And in 1Tim.3: 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Societies that have promoted and protected the family unit have prospered and those that did not protect the family, rose and fell.1
Focus on the Family has stated:2, 3
“Marriage is the only human institution that uniquely interweaves our private needs with the
public need for commitment to the next generation. The tapestry of a society will be only as
strong as the pattern of its threads. Marriage between a man and woman must be celebrated and
supported by communities, families and individuals who depend upon it.”
"An extensive body of research tells us that children do best when they grow up with both
biological parents in a low-conflict marriage... Thus, it is not simply the presence of two
parents, as some have assumed, but the presence of two biological parents that seem to support
child development."
1 The Minoan, Greek, and Roman cultures are examples of cultures that did not maintain a respect for the family.
2 http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/marriage/teach-your-children-about-marriage/woven-together
3 http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/marriage/teach-your-children-about-marriage/30-years-of-research.
Kerby Anderson commented in 2009 “Decline of the Family”4
“What about the moral decline of Rome? Do we see parallels in America? I have addressed this in previous articles such as ‘The Decline of a Nation’ and ‘When Nations Die.’ Let’s focus on the area of sexuality, marriage, and family.
In his 1934 book, Sex and Culture, British anthropologist Joseph Daniel Unwin chronicled the historical decline of numerous cultures, including the Roman Empire. He found that cultures that held to a strong sexual ethic thrived and were more productive than cultures that were ‘sexually free.’
In his book Our Dance Has Turned to Death, Carl Wilson identifies the common pattern of family decline in civilizations like the Roman Empire. It is significant how these seven stages parallel what is happening in America.
In the first stage, men ceased to lead their families in worship. Spiritual and moral development became secondary. Their view of God became naturalistic, mathematical, and mechanical.
In the second stage, men selfishly neglected care of their wives and children to pursue material wealth, political and military power, and cultural development. Material values began to dominate thought.
The third stage involved a change in men’s sexual values. Men who were preoccupied with business or war either neglected their wives sexually or became involved with lower-class women or with homosexuality. Ultimately, a double standard of morality developed.
The fourth stage affected women. The role of women at home and with children lost value and status. Women were neglected and their roles devalued. Soon they revolted to gain access to material wealth and also freedom for sex outside marriage. Women also began to minimize having sex relations to conceive children, and the emphasis became sex for pleasure.
In the fifth stage, husbands and wives competed against each other for money, home leadership, and the affection of their children. This resulted in hostility and frustration and possible homosexuality in the children. Many marriages ended in separation and divorce.
In the sixth stage, selfish individualism grew and carried over into society, fragmenting it into smaller and smaller group loyalties. The nation was thus weakened by internal conflict. The decrease in the birthrate produced an older population that had less ability to defend itself and less will to do so, making the nation more vulnerable to its enemies.
Finally, unbelief in God became more complete, parental authority diminished, and ethical and moral principles disappeared, affecting the economy and government. Because of internal weakness and fragmentation, the society came apart.”
4 https://www.probe.org/rome-and-america/
We can see these stages play out in the decline of the Roman Empire. But we can also see them happening before our eyes in America.”
But, we live in a corrupted world where many families have been fragmented. The
number of single parent families in the United States presently is about 27%.5 The
Bible has an answer for this problem:
1 Tim. 5:3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day...6 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Thus, in a society where the family and marriage is honored, there will be stability and a stable environment to raise the next generation which further stabilizes society.
In the Images above several principles regarding family are portrayed:
- Adam and Eve were initially created sinless as reflected in that they did not notice their nakedness. Yet, Adam as the leader was accounted the greater sin of willfully rejecting God’s Command than Eve deception, but both suffered as a family because of the sin.
- The love of a mother and father for their child, as a God-fearing Jewish family, allowed God to miraculously preserve Moses (his Egyptian name).
- Naomi, a Jew, lost a husband and two sons. She was returning to relatives for support. Ruth, a Moabite, her daughter in law forsook all to follow her and her God. As a widow she was accepted as the wife of the Kinsman Redeemer Boaz, a Godly Jewish man. She would end up in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Thus, God had instructed the Jewish People how to care for the widow and orphan.
- The birth of Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, was among a family unit of a husband and wife. Though he was NOT the product of conception by Joseph and Mary, they would subsequently have other children. God affirmed His design for family by having Jesus enter the world this way.
- A modern Jewish family from a picture of the 1800’s. Fragmented yet preserved, for among the Jewish People there is a high regard for the family. God honors that commitment.
2 Tim.3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth...2 Tim.4 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
In Conclusion: Let us do all that we can to preserve the family unit for our sakes and for our societies well being and for future generations. For the family unit is a concept born out of the will of God.
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