Skip to main content


During the month of May we want to focus on "The Family" because we simply believe that God is the originator of the family and continues to uphold it. The traditional family is under attack. Television programs portray fathers stupid, mothers as overbearing, and children as smart beyond their years. 

The biblical ideal, established at the beginning of humanity, is for one man and one woman to join in a spiritually and physically committed union for a lifetime, conceiving and rearing children (Genesis 1:27–28; 2:18, 21–25). Although this model wasn't followed consistently throughout the Scriptures.  Today, single parents, married couples without children, grandparents rearing their grandchildren, and empty-nesters etc., make up a considerable percentage of "Christian" families.  Yet a Christian family can be a group of people who are related to each other and are committed to the person and work of Jesus Christ. We can experience the love, power, and forgiveness of God in the context of our families.

A Christian family is one that built on biblical principles and one in which each member understands and fulfills his or her God-given role. The family is not an institution designed by man. It was created by God for our benefit of man, and we have been given stewardship of it. The biblical family begins with one man, one woman and their children. The extended family can include relatives such as grandparents, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles. 

The first ideal for a Christian family is that all the members are Christians, with a true relationship with Jesus Christ. The second ideal is that the marriage relationship between husband and wife that is foundational to a Christian family, follows the biblical instructions. The third ideal is that the children obey and to honour their parents. Finally, a Christian family will have all its members committed to Christ and His service. When a husband, wife, and children all fulfill their God-appointed roles, then peace and harmony can be experienced in the home. 


Join us in aspiring to become a Christian Family at Emmanuel.

Greetings
Ron

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Temporary Suffering

Temporary Suffering Part 1: Is it God's will for Christians to suffer? I recently posed this question to our congregation. The response could not have been more diverse, ranging from " absolutely ," to " absolutely not! " Here's the thing: everyone undergoes suffering in some form at some point of time. Consequently everyone has an opinion about it, seeing as we're all experts in our own rights. But what does the Bible say? If we take seriously Jesus' words in the Gospels it becomes abundantly clear that being His follower comes with various hardships. His teaching about suffering as a disciple culminates in everyone's least favourite promise in the Bible where He states, " In this world you will have trouble... " (John 16:33) But perhaps that's still somewhat open to interpretation? And what about God's will regarding such matters as suffering and hardship? Let's look at passages out of the letters of...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Christian Perspective on Fasting

A Christian Perspective on Fasting Throughout the ages of the Christian centuries, fasting has been viewed both positively and negatively. John Wesley said, "Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregarded it."  At times it has been considered to be a panacea of all spiritual problems, an activity permeated with magical powers.  This is not unrelated to the problems experienced in biblical times in the matter of fasting. For example, consider what Isaiah had to say, "'Why have we fasted,' they say,'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. (Isa. 58:3) At other times fasting has been considered as something that is "old fashioned" and not belonging to the life of the Christian.  So, what is fasting? Is it a part of a Christia...
Post a Comment
Read more