Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/76

Contributor - Beverley Harvey

Title - Home and Family

Topic - Women

Whether we are speaking of the past, present, or future of the Reformed Church in Canada, we recognize the fact that it involved our families and the homes in which those families are raised. The Church must be faithful in preaching and teaching the Word of God in all its fullness but it is in our family circles, whether they are large or small, that the living out of the Christian life is nurtured and where it grows.

It is a wonderful thing when families worship together on a Sunday in the house of God, but if loving devotion to Jesus Christ and His Church does not continue all the other six days of the week within the walls of our homes, then the Sunday service will probably be meaningless and the truths that are learned in the Church will be ignored.

There is a future for the Reformed Church in Canada if, as families we are faithful to the Word of God by gathering around I it to read and study it together and use it as our guide for life as we are supposed to do. Faith and trust in God brings a sense of freedom and joy into a home that cannot be obtained in any other way.

I see a Church as being only as strong as its individual families are strong in their desire to put Christ first in their lives and to be faithful to His commandments in their homes and in their Church life. When parents are enthusiastic about the Kingdom of God and take an active part in the ongoing work of the Church, generally speaking, you find that the children will follow suit.

It seems to me that nothing could adversely affect the growth of the church in the future more than criticism in our homes of the Church, its leaders and its workers. When we speak of the future" we are talking about our children and the part they will play when they are old enough to be the Church's leaders, so instead of hearing criticism and complaining they should be hearing mother and father praying for the Church, concerned for the Church's needs, and being as active in the Church's work as possible. A sense of faithfulness and loyalty is just as contagious (catching) as any other characteristic and the children in our families can tell very early in life whether we truly love the Lord and have given Him and His Church first place in our lives.

Personally I am very grateful to the Reformed Church and to the ',Christians in it whom the Lord used to bring me to a personal i knowledge of Jesus Christ and His saving love for me. Perhaps it is that sense of gratitude for the strong adherance to the Word of God in the Reformed Church that we need in our families to help develop faithfulness and loyalty so that no matter where our children may go to work or live when they grow up, if circumstances make it possible, they will look first for a Reformed Church in which to worship and serve the Lord.

The future of the Reformed Church is under the Lord's control but it seems to me that a lot of what will happen depends on what i is happening in our homes today.

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