From the beginning of man's existence, the most important element for cohesiveness and stability among mankind was the family. This basic unit bound people together as a means of preservation of tribal and linguistic similarities, and was both a religious and moral consideration. While it is true that many men had a plurality of wives, it is also true that relationships outside the bond of marriage was forbidden or strongly frowned upon. Family awareness was so prevalent that many people married rather close relatives (e.g., Abraham, Isaac, Jacob). However, the Lord eventually forbid such marriages in the days of Moses. The family remained the important backbone of society among ancient Israel. In cultures that were not under the influence of the teachings of Moses and the prophets, there was little effort to maintain stable family ties. Theirs was a laissez faire existence: without guidelines, inhibitions, restraints, or morals.

Throughout history, there has existed these two opposing modes of living. In general, the people who held sacred the family and marriage were followers of the living God, while those who lived lasciviously were heathen, pagan, and/or idolaters. The early settlers of the North American continent were in the first group mentioned above. Next to God and church, marriage and family were most sacrosanct. Except for the Mormons, most Americans defined the family as husband, wife, children. There were a few exceptions to this, of course, because there have always been a few non-believers who did not conform to the accepted norm. It is proper, then, to consider the classic family unit as the standard upon which to build a decent, strong, upright and wholesome culture. It provides a healthy environment for the upbringing of offspring. The family unit we refer to is the Biblical principle of father, mother, and children. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife (not wives): and they shall be one flesh." (Gen. 2:24) Here is God's definition of family: father, mother and children!

The Family Derailed

Early in this century, the family experienced a bitter attack from forces which should have known better. The incidence of divorce began to increase while the grounds for divorce diminished at an alarming rate. Certain cities became a haven for those who were seeking a sudden way out of a marriage gone sour. As divorces increased, families were broken up, children became alienated from a parent (decided upon by a court), and one or both parents eventually remarried, leaving indelible scars upon the minds and hearts of the children. At least half of all marriages now end in divorce, thus demeaning the sanctity of the marriage yet further. For years it was customary for the mother to keep the children while the husband paid alimony and child support. In too many cases, fathers adeptly disappeared from the scene to avoid giving support to a person he no longer loved. No one knows how many kids have grown up not having known their fathers intimately.

The Greatest Tragedy

The heaviest blow to the family has come via the homosexual and lesbian communities who have now gained official legitimacy for a wicked and depraved lifestyle, and are approved for adoptive parentage. This, of course, is directly opposed to the standards of the Almighty. Children need the godly influence of both mother and dad, a familial condition which is absent in all homosexual unions, whether male or female. As God is opposed to this totally unnatural and ungodly situation, we also must oppose and cry out against it. It is the very least we can do. It is a contradiction of terms to call a homosexual union a family, even if children become involved in the compact. The use of the word family has always (until now) included a male, a female, and offspring. Two males or two females do not constitute a family.

Another Tragedy

Added to the above decadent malaise is the single-parent syndrome, which has increased astronomically since the early sixties. Single parenting stems from two main sources: divorces and unwed mothers. With divorce rates of 50% of all marriages, it is little wonder that we have multitudes of kids who grow up without the benefit of one of their parents. Statistics are not reliable for the number of children born out-of-wedlock, simply because many illegitimate births are not followed, but in a day when girls and boys are being encouraged to experiment, sexually, before they reach full puberty, we can expect the incidence of pregnancy and birth, among the very young, to accelerate. It is a sad day when our federal government gets into the business of sponsoring what they call "safe sex" for children. Such bold tactics aid in the destruction and overthrow of the God-ordained family.

Sex should never be indulged in outside the bonds and commitment of marriage. Inevitably, pregnancies do occur, and the children born as a result of such stupidity become victims of a lopsided parental arrangement dominated by a single young girl who hasn't yet learned to fend for herself, let alone raise another human being. Thus the typical, classic family is just about reduced to ashes. Such cliches as "family values" are now ridiculed and scoffed at as if they were only applicable to some long-ago, unenlightened generation of fuddy-duddies who didn't enjoy having fun(?). These are actually signs of the time in which we live. The Scriptures have forewarned us of these things. (II Tim. 3:1-7). Other than raise our voices in protest against this terrible calamity which has smitten mankind, there is little we can do except in our own families.

This is the time for Christians, of whatever persuasion, to stand firm on vital issues which affect their lives and those of their children. Christians should fight against divorce. It is possible to solve differences and conflicts through the application of the word of God. How many marriages could have been salvaged if the principle of forgiveness had been applied, or the other principles of the Sermon On The Mount? Christian parents need to revise their methods of dealing with their children. Kids are allowed too much TV time without monitoring, and they soak up what they see and hear. Never before has an entire generation of children and young people been so exposed to lewdness, violence and corruption as has this present one. If parents don't want to lose their families to the world and ungodliness, they will need to start some positive measures to prevent such actions on the part of their kids.

As we see the family under attack from every side, it is time to restore some of the values of several decades ago, with family-oriented activities, recreation and devotions. This may be old-fashioned, but we must admit that a few years back, the moral climate in society was much better than it is today. It is now time for families to evaluate their condition and determine what needs to be done to preserve that most important basic unit - the family.

(Reprinted from Number 364, March 1994 issue of "The Testimony of Truth" with permission from "People of the Living God")

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