Christian Family Living

Strictly speaking Christian family living dates back only to the time of the apostles. A year after Barnabas found Saul of Tarsus and returned to Antioch the disciples were tagged with the name of Christian (Acts 11:26). But we would be remiss regarding history if we neglected the whole foundation upon which the Church stood. Broadly speaking “Christian” means “that which pertains to Christ” or “godliness.” Certainly there were godly households in the time of Moses and Joshua. One only need think of Joshua who said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”(Joshua 24:15). Serving the Lord is synonymous with that which is Christian. For, Who was a greater Servant than our Lord Christ was? According to God Himself family living that pleased Him had to do with justice and judgment in keeping His ways (Genesis 18:19).
The father has no small place in Christian (godly) family living. His place is to bless his household and to intercede for them before God (2 Samuel 6:20, Job 1:5). Also, he is responsible for maintaining an orderly household and instruction in the fear of the Lord. In the absence of a father the mother shoulders the responsibility as in the case of Timothy.
Whether you are a parent or a child you know that no parent does it perfectly. This is due to the fact that Christian families are composed of sinners. Anytime sinners interact with each other the potential for trouble exists. However, God’s good purposes are often effected through troubles and trials. From the beginning of the world God has been in the business of bringing order out of chaos, life out of death, good from evil. In New Testament terminology this theme is known as “resurrection.”
The Christian home perhaps more than any other place should be characterized by love and forgiveness. We are to be “kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). Fathers it is your responsibility in the home to set the tone of forgiveness and mercy. Vengeance, retribution, and justice all have their place. But redemption and mercy followed hard on the heels of the creation and Sabbath rest. Christian family living has to do with forgiven sinners living together, ever mindful of God’s great mercy in Christ toward us. A sign of true power is the ability to show mercy as shown by King David in 2 Samuel 9.