>WHAT MAKES A FAMILY CHRISTIAN? > >What do you think an ideal Christian family should be like? >Perhaps you envision a dad who earns the family's only source of >income and a mom who stays home with their biological children. >Maybe you even picture a cozy single family house, a dog, and >idyllic family dinners every evening at 6 o'clock. > >But most families don't fit that profile, and those who don't can >be every bit as biblically correct as families that match the >prevailing cultural stereotype of an ideal family. Likewise, some >families that look "perfect" aren't spiritually healthy. > >So what makes a family a Christian one? Here are some principles >to consider: > > * There is no such thing as a perfect person, and since > families are composed of people, no perfect family exists, > either. > > * The Bible doesn't prescribe specific roles for family > members to fulfill. Instead, it charges them with specific > responsibilities. For example, family members should love > each other, but the way in which they express that love can > vary from person to person. If a husband has a talent for > cooking and a wife has a talent for auto repair, they are > free to serve each other in those ways, even though they > differ from cultural stereotypes. > > * The Bible doesn't present an ideal family model. In fact, > it's full of stories of families who have undergone very > human struggles but turned to God for help. > > * Doing God's will is more important than focusing on natural > family relationships. God should always come first, before > family concerns. > > * All humans share a heavenly Father, and in that sense, all > people are family. Within the body of Christ as well, you > have many brothers and sisters that you should cherish just > as much as your biological ones. > > * It's important to respect everyone in your family as child > of God. > > * A healthy balance in family life is to provide an atmosphere > where both affection and authority are exercised. > > * God's forgiveness should encourage all family members to > extend grace to one another. > > * When a crisis occurs, healthy families should face them > honestly, not avoiding the pain, but with hopeful faith that > God will get them through it. > > * Healthy families expect God to intervene in their lives on a > regular basis. > > * Spouses in healthy marriages maintain sexual fidelity. > > * God wants families to be concerned about the larger world > outside their households, sharing God's love with others. > >-- By Live It Editor Whitney > >----------- > A former pastor, Robert M. Hicks has counseled many > families. He and his wife Cynthia have three grown > children. > > Adapted from The Christian Family in Changing Times: > The Myths, Models and Mystery of Family Life, > copyright 2001 by Robert M. Hicks. Published by Baker > Book House Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., > www.bakerbooks.com, 1-800-877-2665. ********************************************************************** This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. To unsubscribe, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For automatic help, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] To know more about Jesus Youth, visit http://www.jesusyouth.org **********************************************************************
