From the Preacher’s Pen… 

RacineBuildingThe Lord’s church is a family and there is nothing more beautiful to see than families that come together to study God’s word and to worship Him as one. God created the family relationship as His plan for humans and in it, we see our relationship to God.

Yes, that is a circle, a God designed circle to teach us an important lesson and keep us coming back to the point! Consider the thoughts of a fellow preacher and friend on this lesson for today:

Are Family Values Important?

Family values are receiving an immense amount of attention in the news of recent times. It has gained attention in this years’ political arena. Some protest that these have no place in the election discussions, while others believe that they are of vital concern. Heated arguments can be ignited by expressing views on either side of these issues.

That many people are vitally concerned about what they consider their “family values” cannot be denied, and all people could well take an interest. We are witnessing a time when pressures are upon families to give in to “change” – whatever that means.

The kinds of changes which some are touting would collapse the moral fiber of family life.

All humanity has been created in God’s image. Psalms 100:3 says, “Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and now we ourselves, and the sheep of His pasture.” Since we are the offspring of God, He has a sovereign right to set the standard for our lives.

The first three divinely ordained institutions that God established was the family. Jesus contended with the religious leaders of the first century who were defending changes in family values. He said, “Have you not read, that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:4-7). As one listens to the rhetoric of election campaigns, this precept from the Son of God should be the standard by which we measure every proposal to change family values.

In the biblical record, God established the family by creating one man and one woman who were to be joined together for life. This standard does not approve same-sex marriages, any more than it approves polygamy. Jesus also staunched the hemorrhaging divorces for every cause, stating one exception: “And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery. (Matthew 19:9)

God also takes notice of any mistreatment of those who are left alone and are defenseless in the world, especially of those who have been deprived innocently of their families. Israel sang this admonition: “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widow is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families” (Psalms 68:5-6). They also were taught, “Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and the needy; free them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalms 82:3-4). Would it not be better if we would turn back to the eternal moral principles set by God? To be sure the more we turn away from those principles the more problems we bring upon ourselves.

—Gene Greer, Heidenheimer, Church of Christ

In a world inspired by Satan to be anti-family and anti-God, may we truly cherish and always live our relationship as God’s family. Live the word this week and always!

— Lester P. Bagley