Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/74

Contributor - Rev. Joel F. Hansma

Title - "The Family Home"

Topic - Meditation

"AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD"

What do you say about the average home that hasn't been said better and more often? Don't we traditionally talk about the alarming divorce rate, the sad story of liquor and it's contribution to the destruction of the home and the foundations that build a successful home? We talk about the poor overworked housewife who spends her whole life seeing the baby gets the bottle and that the husband doesn't. We spend all this time on the talk that seems to tear down any dignity that may even be present in the home that is established on a shaky ground. Let's try once to reverse our outlook. Let's look at the family home established and founded on the service of the Lord! When Christ said to "pick up your cross and follow me" he didn't mean that life in him was a bore or that being a Christian was a life of pain. After all he also said that he "has come so that we may have life and have it abundantly". But what does that mean in the Christian family situation?

Do I have to begin by remembering us parents that the truly lovely people in the world are our very own children? A parent came to me with the amazing discovery that he couldn't understand his teenage child. "It was like he talked another language. My reaction was to ask when was the last time he tried to understand him. The generation gap all off a sudden became apparent. It is a gap of heartbroken young frustrates who stand aghast at adult uncomprehension of their situation. How did it happen? Who caused it? Think back how many times have you found yourselves saying "not now son, maybe later, or you can figure it out yourself"? Time is the most precious of all the North American commodities. If we don't have time does that mean we don't care? I think not, but try to convince the delinquent child that his parents care as he awaits their arrival at the police station. Is there any clear cut black and white answer? Perhaps not, but maybe, just maybe, God's word contains a clue to the answer even if it does not have the total solution.

We in our church have been trying an exercise of "thinking Hebrew". Western culture is built around Greek thought. The Greeks solved their problems in the forum or the market place. The Hebrew solved their problems in the home, under patriarchal leadership. The modern hope is for Christians to be more Hebrew than Greek. Instead of a father who has lost his position of authority and leadership in the home because he "can't be bothered", we must assume patriarchal leadership. We must look at our scriptures. Deut. 6: 7 talks about the commands of God "you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise". That's significantly different than the average family today. It seems the Hebrew was always to think about God and his commands. It seems he didn't just set aside a time each day to have -Spiritual thoughts. He didn't just send his children to Sunday School each week and let the church do its "thing". No! He assumed a responsibility to his family. The family was important to him. The family was important enough to spend the time with it teaching and learning as God commands. God doesn't say in his word that you should, if you can find time. On the contrary he says, "You shall"' do these things. This command does not change with Christ's teaching. He too commands us in the great commission, "to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them "to observe all that I have commanded you". What has happened to the "family altar"? Do we go to all the world and neglect our own family? My plea is one that has been heard over and over again in our baptismal liturgy. "Do you promise to pray for him and teach him to pray". We have also heard the familiar expression "The family who prays together stays together". I personally would rather take the chance of staying together in prayer than to chance a life of the laws of the street.

As we "think Hebrew" we are concerned with the activity of God. Let the Greek worry about who God is. Teach your children and your family what God does! He is a God of love, who is active in each person's life. Use your family altar as a plan of communicating with each member of your family, then together communicate with your active God. I am convinced that the delicate balance of the whole family situation is simply it's answer to the question "Will we be Christ-like and Spirit filled?" The way to begin is to commence.

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