Christian Home
The institution of marriage and family established by God is facing
unique challenges these days. To name few:
- Self-centerdness,
- No spiritual leadership of man,
- Breakdown of interpersonal relationships,
- Impact of social media and personal handsets,
- Everything a family enjoyed doing together,
- Growing gap between parents and children, and
- No discipline of children.
This short study explores few important spiritual principles drawn
from two portions from the Bible along with few practical
applications. The first refers to husband and wife relationship and
the second deals with the parents and children relationship
Gen 2:20.
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and
be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
This verse can be considered as the constitution of marriage and
contains cardinal principles if followed would make marriage both
enjoyable as well God honoring. Four principles drawn from this
passage are listed in the following sub-sections.
-
A man shall:
Man should take the leadership of the
family and the wife should support and complement
- Male headship - Woman submission should be modelled after God
the Father and Son Lord Jesus's relationship or Christ and the church
relationship.
- Take decisions and own it, that is take responsibility when
things go wrong.
-
Leave his father and mother:
Man and woman should terminate all other earthly loyalty for the sake of spouse.
- The best way to love parents is to love the spouse more than
them.
- Mutual love of spouses should be greater than even the love for
children and they should know it.
- Confidence to share even the most intimate things with spouse.
-
Join to his wife:
Man and woman should be covenant-ally committed to each other.
-
Join / cleave / hold fast (
dabaq) means a covenantal commitment.
You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve
Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.
No divorce, no matter how great the issue may be.
- How can I meet my spouses' real need while I meet my need
in Christ.
-
Become one flesh:
Man and woman should be united to have single purpose of serving the Lord.
-
One (
echad):
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one (
echad) LORD.
Unified purpose of marriage: serve the Lord (one should have a
goal outside of his own need).
Duet. 6:7,20-21.
You shall teach them diligently to your
children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you
walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. When your
son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the
testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord our God
has commanded you?’ 21 then you shall say to your son: ‘We were slaves
... and the Lord brought us out of ...
This portion consists of very important commands given to the Jews as
they were preparing to enter into the land of Canaan. Once of the main
concern is preserving the vigour and memory of what God did in their
lives. The primary way this is achieved by pass on to the next
generation by the parents through their children.
Five principles drawn from this
passage are listed in the following sub-sections. Understanding and
obeying it is crucial for a God-honouring and blessed family life.
-
You shall teach … talk …:
Parents have the primary
responsibility in teaching the children about faith and practical
life.
- Teach children from very young age about God and principles of
godly life. This is not the responsibility of the church or Sunday
school teacher.
- Children needs to be disciplined as appropriate to their age.
-
When you sit in your house ...walk ...lie ...raise:
Parents should be available to the children by spending
quality time with children.
- Parents should consciously and creatively use various
opportunities arising out of the daily life at home.
- Do things together - involve children in various works of the
family. E.g. Have dinner and family alter together.
- There should be quality family time with control on digital
media.
-
What is the meaning of ...commandments:
Parents
should teach the children why behind each commands.
- Bible gives the reason behind every command and if we understand
that then we are able to obey the command in its spirit.
- Teach children the issues they may face in the world well in
advance (prevention is better than cure! e.g. evolution)
-
When they ask:
Parents should create an atmosphere at
home so that children will have the freedom to ask questions.
- It is not, if they ask, but
when they ask. This implies,
the parents life should be such a way that the children should have
questions!
- The most effective time to teach is when the children ask
questions rather than according to our schedule (this does not
eliminate the need for systematic teaching).
- Do not ridicule children when they ask questions. They may ask
trivial or naive questions. They may even expose our hypocrisy. Admit
and do not take personally.
-
Then you shall say to your son:
Parents should be
equipped to answer the questions the children ask.
- Parents (Father) should be good Bible teachers. Basic aspects of
faith and teachings of the scripture should be taught to the children
by parents. It is the responsibility of the Father. Mother,
compliments in this responsibility.
- Mothers should complement in the responsibility. It may be
possible that the mother may spent more time with the child.
Nevertheless, husbands role is not to be diminished.
- Every husband and father should take initiative, responsibility to
establish a godly marriage and godly parenting. While he can take the
help of other godly men, this can never be delegated.
- Every wife and mother should complement her husband in
establishing a godly marriage and a godly home.
- Specific and regular prayer of spouse and each child
individually should be practiced.
- The church and her leaders should ensure that all her members
are equipped to have a godly home. It involves frequent counselling,
training, and prayer.
- Regular prayer meetings should be conducted for each couple and
each parent and child. Leadership should counsel couples and parents
periodically.
Prayer: Father, I worship you for the beautiful institution of
marriage and family. Oh my Lord, help me to understand these
principles and apply in my life. Lord, I also pray for the couples
around me that they would experience the joy of married life. Lord, I
pray for all parents and their children that together they would make
a godly homes. Amen.
Compiled by tfrdn7@gmail.com on 2026-04-14 13:09 for the glory of the Lord