5 misunderstandings that are sabotaging the family

I have a heart to see families and marriages succeed.  In fact, recently I've been leading my church to find ways that we can strengthen homes.  There are many practical things that individuals and churches can do to strengthen homes, some of which we're working on…

·      training in effective parenting principles

·      training to strengthen marriages

·      counseling or coaching families through conflict

·      providing child care so couples can go on a date

·      assisting single moms with practical needs

·      supporting foster families

·      spiritual growth programs for children and youth

·      praying for families & marriages

·      supporting families through times of grief

·      training families to manage their money effectively

·      support groups for men and women to help them grow as parents/spouses

Another important aspect of building strong homes is that Christians and churches need to teach God’s design for the family.  Every successful structure, whether physical or social, starts with a design.  Fortunately, God, who invented family and marriage, also gave the blueprints for the design of family and marriage.  Unfortunately, many people in our country seem to be moving farther away from God’s Word and the wisdom it has for us.

Consequently, I look around and count 5 prominent misunderstandings that are sabotaging families today.  Let's keep in mind what is clearly taught in the Bible regarding these topics.  If you don't accept the Bible then this is meaningless to you.  However, if you are a Christ- follower, His teachings are not ambivalent nor ambiguous regarding these 5 misunderstandings.

1.     Marriage was invented by God and he said it was to be a permanent and exclusive relationship between one man and one woman.

2.     A husband is to love his wife even to the point of sacrificing his life for her if needed.

3.     A wife is to submit to the Godly leadership of her husband.

4.     Parents are to show love by consistently correcting and disciplining their children and preparing them to live productive lives that glorify God.

5.     Children are to learn to respect adults and especially their parents and grandparents.

Feeling Needed Part 1, "Why it's important"

After this past summer our church has lost roughly half our members for a variety of reasons.  It wasn’t fun, and it puts us in a financially fragile position.  However, I trust God that it’s part of His plan.  At least part of God's plan seems to be:    

1.     We’re more dependent on Him

2.     Members who were on the sideline before now feel needed

Of course all our members were needed before, but that doesn’t mean that they felt needed.  Some felt marginalized or not old enough or too old or not talented enough or not spiritual enough.  There's also a tendency for people in larger churches to feel that if they don't serve that they wouldn't be missed.

Along these lines, think about this.  These same feelings of marginalization are often felt by our children.  We need to help our children feel needed in the family.   Unfortunately, many children and youth don't see the potential value they could contribute to the family.  So, they grow up as consumers feeling entitled to the privileges of family without being expected to embrace any real responsibilities.  

How do we better help people in our church and family feel needed?