Dale Offutt

(Transcribed from the Words of Life Radio Program)

 

God intends for every Christian home to live with principles. He intends for every marriage to be made in heaven.  God alone knows how many marriages are taking place each day and how few are truly Christian with Christian principles.  Christian homes with principles are not reserved for any specific group because of location, age, color, race of finances, but Christian homes have principles, because they are established by the authority of God.  Such homes adhere to the Word of God.  Christian homes with principles are of great value to not only the Christian family, but to the whole world.

Sociologists, psychiatrists, marriage counselors and ministers all affirm that Christian homes with principles are needed and a must if our society is to claim wholesome values and encourage the lifestyle that will please God.

The following considerations offer much to the Christian home that would live with principles. We are going to consider the rearing of children with proper training, the father in the home, the mother in the home, the church and the home, the home’s place in the community and the Christian home in our nations.

The apostle Paul’s teaching in principles.  We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.  Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.  For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”  For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.     Romans 15 verses one though six.

Let us consider the responsibility of rearing children.  To have a Christian home with principles the parents must consider the importance of having their children with proper leadership.   Principles must be taught to the children.  How is this done? Obviously the parents must be Christians. Someone has said that godly training begins with the grandparents.
The apostle Paul said to Timothy, “Having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and in thy mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, in thee also.”  2 Timothy one verse five.

Godly training, my friends, in the Christian home can overcome tremendous odds of bad environment, wrong associations among peers and many other problems. If we are to have principles in the Christian home, we must have godly teaching and training form the Word of God.  From the Bible godly teaching and training will include the principles of love and obedience for God, love and obey parents, and show respect and love to others. The importance of being a Christian example should include the importance of keeping their bodies clean and pure because they belong to God, stressing the sin and harm involved when anyone is involved with drugs or immoral behavior, purity of the mind or thoughts.

Surely many other principles are found in the Word of God which will enrich Christian homes. Let us consider the father in the home.  He is responsible for principles.  The strength of his love offers a principle upon which other principles will be built. They will be realized and appreciated by other family members. His discipline, his leadership with God directed decisions offers an example of courage in time of adversity, providing spiritual welfare for each member of his household.

All of these values make for principles in a Christian home. Fathers are entrusted with the responsibility of developing principles in the Christian home. Surely the Christian father wants to pattern his life after God so he can be the example he should be in his home. His principles will be followed by his children and his wife should be able to support his principles.

The third consideration, the mother in the Christian home.  She can either add to and adorn Christian principles or she can hinder the needed principles. Motherhood is a woman’s highest calling. We believe that she is required to set the moral tone of the home and exhibit the greatest sacrifice. Her job is never done, neither by day nor by night. It is a constant and abiding career.  She is constantly involved with the managing of the home and its resources. Her life lights up the atmosphere of the Christian home.  The Christian mother has the responsibility to light up the home with a Christ like attitude and a bright light to her family as she projects love, the love of the Lord by her precious and sweet spirit. Mothers will develop principles in the home by their meek and lowly spirit.  Principles in a Christian home, when they are implanted in the family members, have a tremendous influence among others.

The third consideration, Christian homes with principles bring a great blessing to the Church. Without the Christian home with principles, the Church of our Lord would suffer. The Church of our Lord realizes the value of a Christian home with principles.  Unfortunately, some of the greatest problems in the Church of our Lord have dealt with individuals or families without Christian principles.  Such things as Liberalism, false teaching, popular attractions, and so forth, often try to find entrance to the church because of like minded members of a church.  But some of the greatest victories for our Lord have been realized because of the Christian homes with principles. Parents and children know the Word of God. It opposes Liberalism and upholds sound doctrine. They realize that Christian principles will not allow false teaching or popular attractions to replace the inspired Word of God.

We thank the Lord for the fact that his Church is often blessed with Christian homes which love the truth and live the truth and teach principles in their home and that have such an influence on the Church and even on those outside of the Church.  Such Christian homes that have God fearing parents and trained children with principles will produce great servants for God. The value of a Christian home with principles cannot be overestimated.

Let us consider Christian homes with principles in the community. Someone has said, and we quote, “A community is nothing more than its homes, businesses, churches and schools,” end of quote. The value of a Christian home with principles is surely overpowering. If the Christian home has principles, it will oppose and/ or not allow pornography, gambling, prostitution and crime. Such homes live with conviction.  Thus they have an influence among the non Christians. A Christian told of how he and other Christians who lived with principles stopped an application for a nightclub in his community by uniting their families and fighting the spiritual battle.  Another place Christians stood together in a community and drove pornography out of their town. How did they do that? 150 families signed a petition to refuse to trade with a drug store if it did not remove pornography from its store. It worked.

There is power when Christian homes have principles.  A community needs Christian homes with principles if it is to have strong schools, decent recreation and activities.  Christian homes with principles can make a difference for the good of others in the community.

Let us look at the Christian home with principles in the nation.  We are told that righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to any people.  My friends, the wise man Solomon uttered those words. And much sin prevails in this world: false religions, immorality, crime and so forth.   As a result, homes and the entire nation suffer. Nations differ in values even when all are plagued with sin.  However, Christians can still make a difference when they live with and by principles.  When God is acknowledged as a sovereign God and the creator and the Redeemer, Savior and provider for all mankind, individuals, homes and even nations will see the need for principles.

Please keep that thought in mind. When God is acknowledged as the sovereign God and the Creator, as the Redeemer, Savior and provider for all mankind, individuals, homes and even nations will see the need for principles.
Christian leaders of a nation can influence the citizens of that nation. Christian homes when they love and have obedience for God and for mankind, when they have respect for the Word of God and teach the Word of God in its purity, when they are careful to provide for spiritual needs as well as the physical needs for the family, great things happen. Principles are realized not only in the home, not only in the Church, not only in the community, but also in the nation.  Christian homes with principles can make a difference, not only for the present day in which we live, but for an eternity. Oh, may God bless you to have a Christian home with principles.

Are you among those who represent a Christian home with principles? First of all, of course, you need to be a Christian before you can truly represent your home as a Christian home. Our Lord once looked upon the human race. We believe he saw people who were weary.  We believe he saw people who were existing, but not really living with principles.  They did not claim to be his followers, but because he loved them and because God loves us this day, he still holds out a special invitation of love. And, my friends, because he is love and because he offers principles that can make a difference in one’s life, namely being in Christ Jesus, he offered to them what he offers to us, a sweet invitation, a rest for the weary.

Hear these precious words.  “Comet to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

People today who live without principles are not Christian people. They are a people for whom Christ died.  They are a people for whom God sent his Son into the world to die for their sins.  Are you numbered among those who still need to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior?

Many people are making that decision even this day who believe that there are souls that are weary, responding to Jesus. Would you give your life to Jesus? Many have repented of sin.  Many have been baptized for the forgiveness of their sins and they have received the gift of the Holy Spirit and through him we not only read the Word of God, but we are enlightened. He guides us. The Holy Spirit guides us into all the truth. And, my friends, when we have the truth, we then establish Christian principles in the Christian home.

Would you give your life to Jesus even this day and know the joy of not only being in a home, but being in a Christian home.  Perhaps you will encourage others.  And you will have that Christian home with principles.

 

Dale Offutt is retired minister of the Sellersburg Church of Christ, Sellersburg, IN.