The world is changing right before our very eyes! Just in the past 10 years, America has seen some big changes to our culture, the church, the home, industry and a host of other areas. Not all change is bad; for example, technology is a rapidly changing item that seems to make life easier. However, some change is not only harmful to America but sinful as well. One of the areas that is rapidly changing for the worse is the family and home. Not only are many embracing this change, but some are even promoting it. The traditional home is under serious attack! The traditional home by definition is simply a home where father and mother are both present, living together, married to each other, loving one another, and together rearing their children. Sadly, some scoff at the traditional home while others are vehemently opposed to it. In fact, there is a movement in America to change and to transform the traditional home. As such, more than ever, God-fearing, Bible-believing people of faith must rise up and defend the traditional home. We do not defend the traditional home because it is traditional but rather because it is designed and defined by God Almighty!
Firstly, consider the plan for the traditional home. Mankind has no authority to change what God has planned. God’s plan from the very beginning of creation was for one man to be married to one woman for life (Genesis 2:21-25). When His opposers tried to trap Him, Jesus brought their attention right back to the original plan for the home (Matthew 19:1-9). Jesus was not closed-minded, a bigot, hateful or caught in a rut here; He simply affirmed the plan from the beginning. When we preach, teach, write or advocate the original plan for the home, please understand, Dear Reader, that we are simply appealing to the ultimate authority from the One Who designed the home. We are not hateful or bigots by doing so. Not my way or your way but God’s way is the way that is right in every area generally and for the home specifically! The plan is simple, and nothing will change it; one man and one woman for life!
Secondly, consider some of the perversions to the traditional home. Today mankind is promoting many perversions to God’s plan. One of these is deliberate single-parent homes (artificial insemination, etc.). Adulterous homes where husband or wife, and sadly even sometimes both, are ineligible for marriage (Matthew 5:32; 19:1-9; Romans 7:1ff; 1 Corinthians 7:1ff) is another perversion of the home that God designed. Possibly more than any other, this perversion is affecting the purity of the Lord’s church in many locations!
Living together or “shacking up” is all too common in the world today, which is a perversion to God’s plan (Hebrews 13:4). Dishearteningly, lesbian, transgender and homosexual couples are a degrading perversion to God’s plan for the home as well. This perversion is at an all-time high and rapidly growing in most communities. It will never be accepted by God for two men or two women to be married, no matter what the law of the land may advocate (Acts 5:29). Please understand that Christians do not hate homosexual or lesbian couples. Rather, we simply want to share with them God’s plan, which is the best plan for them, not only here on earth but ultimately in eternity!
Lastly, consider the power of the traditional home. (1) God is Glorified! God can never receive the glory and honor that is due Him when man perverts the home. God is not honored and revered when two men “marry”! It is a disgrace and a dishonor to God when we laud and encourage such sinful actions. The opposite is true as well; when the traditional home is promoted and protected, God is honored and glorified (Psalm 127:1ff; Proverbs 31:10ff). (2) Families are unified! Social science research for decades has shown the vital and necessary role that both mother and father play in the stability of the home. The absence of a father in the home has been proven to increase fear, anxiety and low self-esteem in children. Children who have been raised without mothers tend to show a lack of feelings and sympathy, as well as exhibit hostile and antisocial behaviors.
Simply stated, both mom and dad add strengths to the home that no one else can. Families are strong and united when God’s plan for the home is honored. (3) Society is dignified! “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). God will not continue to bless a nation that promotes and exalts the breakdown of the home. As goes the home, so goes the nation! Therefore, when we, as a nation, promote sinful homes, God’s anger and vengeance is what we should expect (Genesis 19; Jude 7), but when we defend the traditional home, God’s blessings are what we will enjoy. (4) The devil is horrified! The devil is behind every sinful idea to destroy the foundations of the traditional home. Surely, one of Satan’s worst fears is for the home to be strong and spiritual. When we defend the home that God designed, we are deflecting one of the devil’s fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16).
God’s way is the right way! Only God defines the acceptable, traditional home. Dear Readers, we must unite and defend the very structure that is seriously under attack today, the home. May we together promote the traditional home, seek to practice the values and principles that make up the traditional home, and patiently teach and educate our friends, acquaintances and coworkers about God’s perfect design for the home and family. “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it…” (Psalm 127:1)!
