| Churches minister to families and that is a very important focus of any church. It is through the church family that we, as Christians, find our support, encouragement, and guidance. It is there that we experience God working in our daily lives as we share together the journey we walk each day. It is also there that the unchurched are watching and examining. Since we proclaim to be the body of Christ, are we different than the world? Are we standing up against the standards and values of the world that are not Christ-like? There is much being said and written about the deterioration of family values among evangelical authors these days. Churches as a whole are wondering what to do to strengthen the family. Here are a few suggestions: Make an intentional effort to teach worldview in all the levels of church programming. Biblical worldview needs to be clear and understood. Also, other worldviews need to be taught in order for Christians to know what we are up against. It's very difficult to fight against a faceless enemy. Help every family put a face on worldview. Define values in your church. A general definition is that values are principles and standards by which we choose to live. However, values do change as the culture around us changes, and we need to examine what we are really holding on to. Values are the principles and standards. Are they biblical principles and standards? Do all those values by which we make choices characterize our Father, God? Place an emphases on virtues over values. Values can easily become the "should be" of our lives: something elusive that we never quite grasp. Virtue, on the other hand, is what is. There is no fence on which to argue. Virtues such as love, patience, faithfulness, etc. come from the inside. They are not principles by which we make choices. They are the choices! In fact, they sound familiar, don't they? They are fruit of the very Spirit of God. |
