The value of Christian parents

Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9 ESV

            The overt meaning and intention of this verse has behind it a few important implications which setup the overt command. Sadly we can no longer take these implications of verses like this for granted. No, not even the mention of father and mother which implies a man and a woman joined in covenant marriage each with a respective role to play in the household and in the upbringing of the children. The family was the first social structure God introduced, and He built it on the union of one man and one woman in covenant. The implication of this verse is that the one man one woman marriage structure is beneficial for the children. As much as non-believers would like to dismiss this truth even their research continues to bear it out; as does real world experience.

            This verse also assumes that the father and mother are instructing and teaching their children. The family is meant to be the first and primary location for learning. It is the responsibility of parents to raise their children, and given the lesson of verse 7 especially to raise them up in the fear of the Lord. The church’s role is not to take over for the parents, relieving them of their responsibilities, but rather to come along side them in those responsibilities to encourage, equip, and support their efforts. Going to church should not hinder the family, but greatly facilitate it. The church should also be the first line of defense for the family, helping to create a safer environment in which parents can pursue their work of discipleship.

            The world likes to divide the children and the parents, the young and the old in any way it can. It has so far succeeded that the wisdom of this verse seems more than false, it seems utterly irrelevant. Nevertheless, it is true wisdom. When the family is functioning, or trying to function according to God’s design then the words of these verses become true. The teaching and instruction of Christian fathers and mothers is indeed a wonderful adornment for any child, a grace of God to them which should be treasured and worn with gratitude.

            In this time the war against the church has succeeded so far that the family has been exposed and has suffered greatly. There are many who grow up in broken homes, or who try to raise children alone. This verse can feel as a rebuke and discouragement to such souls. The Father desires to be a father to the fatherless. He has created a community in which single parents can find help from a whole village, and where even orphans can find men and women to dispense the instruction of missing parents. At least, this is how it should be… To all those who have been let down by earthly parents, and by the Church, I am sorry. But know that there is a God in heaven who will never fail you and who sent His Son to die so that He could adopt you into His family forever. His sons and daughters here on Earth are imperfect, but someday when we have gathered at Home, the circle of our true family unbroken and unbreakable, all things will be made right and perfect.

Prayer

Father, we thank You for the blessing of Christian homes, and we pray that this blessing would rediscovered by our society. We pray broken homes would become rare, and where there are broken homes we pray a unbroken church would be present to pick up the piece and take up the work of healing and raising up men and women in the fear of the Lord.  We pray that some son or daughter of Yours would be there to tell every orphan, every victim of parental abuse, every lonely suffering soul the good news of adoption through Christ into an everlasting family with a good Father who loves His children perfectly. To you be all glory. Amen.