Few would dispute the fact that marriage, home,
and the family have been under assault of late. The breakdown
of the home is one of the most significant problems we face. There
was a time in our history when family ties were close and solid,
but that time has passed for many families. This is a problem
we cannot afford to ignore.
What has caused the disintegration of the American
family? Several factors are involved. Among them are 1) the high
divorce rate, 2) acceptance of alternate life styles (living together
outside of marriage, homosexual unions), 3) rampant sexual immorality,
4) the mobility of society (the average family moves once every
five years), 5) materialism (the belief that we need to have more
has pulled young mothers out of the home and into the work force),
and 6) the breakdown of traditional religious values. These factors
and others are combining to destroy the traditional American family.
Can anything be done?
The only solution is a return to the Biblical
framework for marriage and family. The home was the first institution
ordained by God, and it was meant to be lasting (Genesis 1:28;
Matthew 19:9). The home should be the center for spiritual, emotional,
and physical growth. It should be the place where love is nurtured
and cultivated. It is the place where values are instilled. It
is in the home that respect for God, country, and fellow human
beings is learned. Home is the heart of society. The ties that
bind us to home and family must be strong and lasting. Couples
must bring commitment to marriage. Children must be seen as precious
gifts from God, and parents must make the sacrifices of time,
talent, and resources necessary to insure that they have a solid
foundation upon which to build. How can we expect our children
to have values if we have none?
There are no real government solutions to this
crisis. In fact, part of the problem stems from the belief that
it is government's role to baby sit, feed, clothe, educate, and
provide health care for our children. What we really need is not
more government programs but more individual responsibility and
accountability. In essence, what we need is parents who will be
parents and raise their children to be productive citizens. The
church can help in that regard, but not even the church can replace
the home.
Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote: "And where we
love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.
The chain may lengthen, but it never parts." May God help
us to build better homes. 534 Sixth St., Marietta, OH 45750.