Christians often lament over the declining morality and the increasing ungodliness in this nation. It seems that across the nation wickedness of all kinds is becoming more and more mainstream. Belief in God, Christ, and the Bible is becoming less common and less distinct. The traditional, national foundation of marriage and family is eroding out from underneath us, and the nation’s moral structure is collapsing. This has Christians alarmed, and rightly so.
Why has our nation embraced sin to this degree? The Scripture tells us, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Prov. 14:34). History demonstrates that this proverb is true, for many great and powerful nations now lie in ruins because they embraced sin and were destroyed. So why are we walking in their steps when this path only leads to ruin?
There are many underlying factors, but much of the problem is found in homes that utterly fail to serve God. These homes are truly dysfunctional, for they are failing to serve the purpose for which God created them. They are producing people who have no regard for God and His word. These are truly godless people because they have never known God at all. It cannot surprise us when children who are raised up in homes without respect for God become adults that have no respect for God. These godless people have become a major component of the society in which we live, and therefore godlessness has become a major component of our society.
Let us appreciate that God designed the home to cultivate godliness in children. He intended for the home to be a place where the word of God was taught continuously (Deut. 6:6-9). He designed fathers to bring up children in the His discipline and instruction (Eph. 6:4). He designed mothers to bring up and love their children (1Tim. 5:10; Tit. 2:4). He planned for parents to provide instruction, training, discipline, and correction for children so that they would learn wisdom, godliness, and self-control (Prov. 1:8-9; 10:13; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Heb. 12:7-11). These are God’s purposes for children in the home.
However, our society has designed other plans for children and the home. Society’s model for children calls for their parents to turn them over to be trained by other people. Children are to be practically abandoned to schools, day-care centers, and babysitters while their parents pursue their own personal ambitions and financial gain. Society tells us that “it takes a village” rather than a home to raise a child. We are told that children need trained professionals to raise them properly, so we shouldn’t try it at home ourselves. Instead, the home is simply to be a place where children may eat, sleep, and play.
The choice of many people to accept society’s model for the home rather than God’s model for the home is now bearing its fruit. This is the universal principle of sowing and reaping in action, which cannot be violated. Many parents have sown their children to the world, and now they are reaping godless adults who are likely to generate more after their own kind. Even many Christians have made the mistake of turning their children over to be raised by others, and they have suffered the spiritual loss of their children as a result. They may be dismayed over these results, but they should not be surprised, for they have reaped as they have sown.
Dear Christian, do not waste the stewardship that God has given to you for your children. Your home is the best place to train your children in godliness, and you are the best person to provide that training. Consider your goals for your children: do you want them to have good educations, good careers, good incomes, or success in the world? Are these your priorities for them? If so, then turn them over to the world, and they will reach your goals. However, if your goal for them is that they become servants of the Most High God, then hold on to them with all of your strength and make your home a haven for their godly training. The world cannot provide what God can give them through you, so make every effort to bring them up in a godly home. If you will do this, our nation will immeasurably benefited, and you and your children will be rewarded eternally.
Stacey E. Durham