The 5 Most Important Issues Christian Families Face

The family is one of the most basic building blocks of society, and one that constantly develops cultural cracks that must be repaired. We’ve all read the statistics about rising divorce rates and the explosion of single-parents homes—these factors weigh especially heavily on the children who will grow to become our next generations. But Christian families, especially, face additional layers of difficulty—the struggles of maintaining unchanging scriptural values in a culturally dynamic world.

Postmodern American culture demands change. It demands suspicion toward the purpose of family. It demands relativism—the doctrine that truth is not absolute, and is ever changing. Within this culture, religion—often a standard bearer for unchanging, eternal truth—is considered outmoded, even dangerous. Because of this, Christian families face some serious issues—ones which must be faced and dealt with in order to thrive. Take a look at these 5 important issues that Christian families face, and some ideas about how to respond to them.

Divorce

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We’ve all read the statistics. Divorce rates have steadily increased over the past few decades, and splitting up is more commonplace and acceptable than ever before—sometimes even applauded. With the shrinking of religious ties, the stigma of divorce has ebbed away, creating a culture where commitment has become only a word.

Still, though, divorce is disruptive and messy, and has profound effects on both the involved spouses, and their children. Children of divorced parents have higher rates of delinquency, academic failure, and incarceration than children of unbroken homes.

There’s a reason for God’s commands. They’re not arbitrary—God hands them down because He knows what’s best for us, and wants us to be happy. He was talking about when He forbade divorce. Christ spoke on the topic, saying that “What God has joined together, let no one separate,” urging against divorce except in cases of infidelity.

As a Christian, it’s important to remember the commitment inherent to marriage, both when considering marriage, and when years into it. Remember that we are all human—divorce affects Christian families at almost the same rate as secular ones. Keeping in mind that your spouse is a flawed human being who will sometimes fail alleviates a lot of tension, and keeps us from holding on to unrealistic expectations—especially as Christians.

Money

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Every day, we’re all encouraged to be materialistic. The advertisements are everywhere—banners proclaiming the inherent value of jewelry, of cars and houses and high-paying jobs. For Christian families, the movement toward materialism can be insidious, beginning with parents who simply want to give their children more than they had. If left unchecked, though, these desires can remove a family’s focus from God, and onto whatever the hot, must-have items of the year are.

God calls us to give to His ministry. Again, this isn’t an arbitrary command. With that money, human beings are cared for and ministered to—including us, at times. Tithing, and teaching children to tithe, even from the small amounts of money they may accumulate, staves off the effects of cultural materialism, and teaches them the value of giving. It’s especially effective if parents can show the effects of giving—the people who are happier and healthier because of their donations.

Media Influence

The problem with modern forms of media is not merely that it’s less morally fettered than ever before, but that morally depraved characters and acts are now being portrayed as sympathetic protagonists—as people who we are to identify with and root for. The anti-hero is one of the most destructive forces in all of media when it comes to negative influence. These characters follow their own moral code, eschewing the institutionalized law or government that they deem “too weak” to do what must be done. They break the law, kill, steal, and murder, all to the fanfare of viewers. They often are a representation of moral relativism at its worst.

We see this trend not only in our entertainment, but in our politics, as well—the news seemingly only covers those politicians whose actions skew toward the immoral.

For the Christian family, this influence can seep in, slowly undermining the firm, moral foundation which God provides. Ensuring that your children—and you—not only study scripture, but talk and think about it, helps your family to have a stronger foundation. There’s nothing wrong with watching your favorite movies and television shows, but make sure that you’re the rock that parts the cultural river, not the leaf that is swept away by it.

Abuse

There are few things which grieve God, as well as damage the reputation of Christianity in the eyes of the secular world like abuse within Christian families. The family is a representation of God’s character, of his love and unity. We are under God’s command to love and care for one another, both for our own happiness, and so that others will be drawn to that kind of love and come to know God.

It can sometimes be easy to misinterpret scripture to support the idea that abuse is somehow acceptable, that a spouse or children “belong” to you. But this isn’t true. They belong to God. We are called to love one another just as God loves us. To do anything less is to break the image of God’s love which family is meant to represent.

If you see abuse occurring, whether it’s emotional or physical, tell someone you trust. God’s plan for our relationships does not involve grief and pain. God does not look down on those who seek to end abuse. Rather, He’s with you.

Anti-Christian Culture

Our culture is steeped in moral apathy, making it harder than ever to remain united as a Christian family. This culture pulls at us, constantly giving us the message that we are to put our own, individual happiness over that of others—the most powerful breaker of Christian families, of any family, there is.

Family is about love, about commitment, and about compromise—it’s not about stark individualism. When we put God first, allowing that vertical relationship to inform our horizontal relationships, we are better able to live in a state of humility and service to our loved ones.

As we move into an increasingly post-religious society this message of “me first” will only grow stronger. That, combined with increasing moral relativism, work to undermine the very foundations of Christianity. But think of this as an opportunity for your family—an opportunity to shine, to show the world how good God is through the love and unity of your family.