Pioneer Christian Monthly - September, 1993

Editorial
Jeff Kingswood

It is unfortunate that the term "family values" has become politicized. Politicians, both here and south of the border, have appropriated the term to describe a political agenda that is in support of "traditional" pro-family values. The problem of course is that politicians separate those values from their biblical origin. Then they simply become moral conventions which people can vote for or against.

The underlying truth is of course that these values are given by God for the government of our lives. They cannot be voted in or out of existence. They stand eternally decreed by God. We can only obey or disobey. That is where the choice we have ends.

We ought to simply speak of the Law of God. Do we stand in our communities and call on our politicians and bureaucrats to obey the King of kings as Psalm 2 advocates or do we shuffle and mumble and talk about returning to some Judeo-Christian ethic that might be acceptable to voters because the Law written on their heart convinces them that there is truth there whether they like to admit it or not? Not often. We have been deceived into accepting the false compromise of the separation of Church and state. It is false because the Word of God recognizes no such separation. We must call our leaders to be obedient to the truth as they rule over us. That is how we must pray.

As we look about our land we see chaos. Pastor Ron Opmeer outlines some of those challenges. But as 2 Corinthians 10 tells us we don't fight with the weapons of the world. We are to boldly speak the truth of the Word of God and it will demolish ungodly arguments and pretensions that set themselves up against the Truth.

Wherever we work, whether we are single or married, young or old, male or female, we are called by God to press the values of God on the situations we find ourselves in. How do we guard ourselves and those we have responsibility over? By a thorough going instruction in the Word and Law of God and application of that Word to the way we live life we will save both ourselves and those who see and hear us.

Lord's Day 32 (Q.86) in our Catechism tells us that we do good "so that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits, and so that by our godly living our neighbors may be won over to Christ."

Family values isn't simply a return to the lifestyle of the 1950's where Ozzie and Harriet and offspring were the model family. Biblical values means a thorough revision of the hearts and minds of men so that Jesus Christ will be recognized as Ruler of all. Family life, business, recreation, politics, law, science, medicine, and on and on. There is no aspect of life that escapes that Lordship. That is the testimony of the Reformed faith.

Our prayer is that this issue of the Pioneer will help you live all of your life to the glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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