Shootings, mob violence and threats of murders-to-come have become part of our daily lives. However, there are also impassioned pleas to stop all the hate and violence. Even though such sincere pleadings (as well as some that may not be so sincere) are being made, no one is setting forth a plan on how to do this, aside from saying: “stop the hateful rhetoric.”
The assassination of Charlie Kirk, the daily attacks on law enforcement, and the unrestrained words of hate coming from politicians and internet influencers are deeply troubling to most Americans. Though some of this has existed before, we do seem to be entering a new level of evil with people that are without conscience and little personal restraint. These days, few would want to suggest that America has become a kinder and gentler country. The opposite is easily demonstrated. But assuming the reality of hateful rhetoric and the growing physical violence, is there any solution?
A KEY SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT CONDITION. The current cultural condition is complex and there are several factors that have contributed to it. To present and evaluate these various factors is beyond the scope of this short article. However, there is one factor that is bedrock to this discussion and that is the family. The family was created by God and was designed to be the very core of human society. A healthy family would be the basis for a healthy society, and a dysfunctional family would contribute greatly to a dysfunctional culture.
- GOD’S DESIGN FOR THE FAMILY. The family was God’s idea. He designed the family to have one husband (a male) and one wife (a female). The husband/wife relationship would be the primary one in the family unit. Children born into this family would be welcome members of the family, but the parent-child relationship was the secondary relationship. In other words, child-centeredness was not how the family was to function. Children were important and were to be loved and cared for, but they were not to be the center of the family. The structure of the family was that the father was the head (the word “head” <kephale> speaks of authority) and he was to give loving leadership to his wife and family. He was the provider, the protector and the “priest” of the family. The wife was to recognize this God-ordained structure and was to be the counterpart, providing the nurturing care as a wife and mother. Children in this environment would learn a correct view of authority and recognize it as important in bringing blessing and order to life.
- MOSES’ CONTRIBUTION TO THE FAMILY CONCEPT. In his writings, Moses made two vital contributions to the importance and function of the family. First, in the Mosaic Law code, the punishment for damaging the family was severe. To harm the family was eventually to harm the nation. This is why many sexual sins were punishable by death. Adultery, incestuous relationships and several other sexual acts had capital punishment attached to them. These sexual acts were terribly destructive to the family unit (Lev. 20:10-16) and violations were to be dealt with very severely. The destructive nature of these sexual sins can be seen everywhere in our own nation. Kidnapping, which would also harm a family, had the death sentence attached to it, again revealing the sacredness of the family in God’s eyes (Exo. 21:16; Deut. 24:7). And the very strict principles regarding divorce also indicated God’s desire for the family unity to remain intact. (Moses’ instructions on the matter of divorce from Deuteronomy 24:1-4 needs to be understood when establishing one’s view of divorce and remarriage).
A second key contribution made by Moses is found in Deuteronomy 6:1-9, which is the first place in the Bible where instruction is given about the communication of God’s truth from one generation to the next. There are three basic guidelines that Moses gives. First, is the fact that teaching life-giving biblical truths is a family matter. Parents as well as grandparents have a vital role to play in the passing on of truth to the next generation. It was not primarily the job of the priests (or of the church today) to do that key work. Second, the child was to be taught to fear the Lord and to love the Lord. While much more would, of course, be part of child training, these two matters of fearing the Lord and loving the Lord would put all else in perspective. And third, the training was to be structured. In other words, formal teaching was involved. With God’s principles purposely taught then biblical truth would naturally be informally taught as part of routine, daily living.
SATAN’S FOCUSED ATTACK ON THE FAMILY. The Evil One has always been aggressively opposed to anything God has established. He never creates but simply distorts what God has created. Many would view the current divide in the nation’s thinking as a battle between men’s philosophies, but it is far more than that. Same-sex marriage, transgenderism, confusion about the sexes and couples living together unmarried are not simply life-style choices but are direct assaults on God’s wise principles for human society. When God’s good standards are dismissed, there are always negative consequences. Those consequences are just too numerous to detail but even unbelievers see many of them.
WHAT CAN BE DONE IN TODAY’S CHURCH AND OUR CULTURE? It should be obvious that what is required is a return to God’s principles and standards. This, of course, is easier said than done. And while such a return would not happen overnight, there are steps that could be taken to address this situation. And God, who delights in things small, could bring about a new beginning of obedience in the lives of thousands.
- PARENTS NEED TO SERIOUSLY GIVE PRIORITY TO THE TRAINING OF THEIR OWN CHILDREN. Many too many Christian parents have abdicated their God-ordained responsibility to train their children in God’s life principles. Instead, youth pastors, Christian schools and other organizations are now the designated ones to do so. But the family is where life is lived on an hour-to-hour basis, and it is the very best place to communicate God’s truths for living. (2 Peter 1:3 reminds us that all we need for life and godliness is found in the Word of God.) Fathers and mothers need to start setting aside specific times during the week to sit with their children and discuss biblical truth. Even if it begins with just a few minutes once a week, there needs to be time given to this critical task. Sometimes parents don’t feel up to the task, but they need to remember that the Holy Spirit has given them the capacity to understand the Word. There is no born-again parent who cannot give biblical instruction to their children. It begins with parental determination to enter into this God-ordained role.
- THE CHURCH NEEDS TO SERIOUSLY GIVE SUPPORTIVE HELP TO PARENTS. One area where the local church can make a vital contribution is giving practical aid and support to parents. Since many parents do feel somewhat inadequate for the task of teaching biblical truth, the church should intentionally develop parental help programs, including making available good materials that can be used. It is rare to find churches that have taken on this venture of giving substantial assistance to parents.
- GROUPS THAT SUPPORT BIBLICAL FAMILIES NEED TO BE SUPPORTED. It seems that we are in a unique moment in this country. The killing of Charlie Kirk has revealed that there is a growing desire on the part of younger people to find spiritual reality. Tired of the emptiness of what the world offers, and developing a hunger for something real, many are turning to spiritual matters. Perhaps their own parents have not provided them with spiritual insights from God’s Word. What a great time for parents to initiate biblical instruction if it has been absent. In many places in our country, hundreds of young people are coming to faith and being baptized. This might just be the time for revival to come (Revival is a new beginning of obedience to God’s Word). Those ministries that support the biblical idea of the family need to be supported.
SOME CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
The Apostle Paul exhorted believers to be “making the most of your time because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). It is a privilege to teach the Word of God because the results are not just beneficial in this life, but they are eternal. Not too many things we do in this life have eternal consequences. Parents, and even grandparents, have been given a marvelous opportunity to pass on the truth of God to their descendants. This will change their family, but perhaps change would spread beyond their family.