Author: Jerry

At the dawn of creation God's first institution was not the church but the home. The garden paradise was prepared, and the entirety of God's creative handiwork was accomplished in preparation for man. Throughout Scripture is found concern and careful direction in timeless principles governing this primary institution which binds a man and a woman together as one to engage in spiritual ministry, including companionship, dominion, procreation, and worship. This institution we call the home.
God's clear and concise plan for marriage is presented first in Genesis, the book of beginnings (cf. Gen. 2:24). In Exodus, the Decalogue is unveiled with each commandment touching upon some aspect of behavior within the family circle. In Leviticus, with the precise presentation of the divine law and its many ramifications, the death penalty is assigned to those who dare to prostitute the home. In Numbers, even the common task of numbering the people is done by families. In Deuteronomy, literally the "second Lawgiving," there is much emphasis upon parental instruction (cf. Deut. 6:4-12). Joshua, in the book which bears his name, is portrayed as the godly patriarch who leads his family to follow YAHWEH (Heb.) God. In Judges, the result of selfish, unbridled lust is seen in the life of Samson; while the book of Ruth presents the meaningful relationships within the greater family (Ruth 1:16-17) and records a beautiful story of romantic love and godly marriage, as well as the presentation of YAHWEH God as the Kinsman-Redeemer (gael, Heb.; cf. Ruth 2:20, note). In the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, i.e., the history of the kings of Israel, one sees again and again the influence of the home upon the individual. The Wickedness of Ahab was extended and magnified by his wife Jezebel (cf. 1 Kin. 21:5-16); whereas the greatness of Samuel and his unusual sensitivity to God certainly was partly due to the influence of the devout Hannah (cf. 1 Sam. 1:27-28). In Ezra, Sehemiah, and Esther, the books concerning the days of captivity, the influence of the temple was gone, and the religious leaders were inhibited or silenced, but through the family unit, a godly seed was preserved (cf. Esth. 2:20; 4: 14). The book of Job reveals Satan's destructive attack on the home through death, disease, poverty, and interna1 strife (cf. Job 1:13-21; 2:7-10). In Psalms are found promises for the home (cf. Ps. 127), and
Proverbs and Ecclesiastes abound in maxims and truths about family and interpersonal relationships (cf. Provo 14:1; 22:6; Eccl. 4:9-12). The Song of Solomon is a beautiful and explicit account of a holy and exclusive love between a man and a woman (cf. Song 4:1-7). The prophetic books continue to allude to the home and the problems and wickedness therein as God's principles are openly violated (cf. Is. 3: 12-26; Jer. 31:29-30; Lam4:10; Ezek. 16:44-45; Hos. 4:1-5; Joel 2:28-29; Mic. 7:5-6; Mal. 2: 14-16).
In the New Testament, the synoptic gospels present Jesus' teachings concerning the family, e.g., His answer to the question of divorce (cf. Matt. 19:3-9). The gospel of John records His first miracle, which was appropriately at a wedding in Cana (cf. John 2: 1-11). Acts makes mention of the use of the home, together with the synagogue, as a center for worship (cf. Acts 2:46; 12: 12) and of the remarkable husband-wife missionary team of Aquila and Priscilla (cf. Acts 18:2-3,18,26). The epistles, too, are full of teachings concerning the family (cf. 1 Cor. 11:1-16; Eph. 5:21-6:4; Co!. 3: 18-21; 1 Thess. 4: 1-7; 1 Tim. 3:1-12; Tit. 2:1-5; Heb. 12:5-11; 1 Pet. 3:1-7). God commands husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church. This love is protective, nurturing, serving, and edifying. It is not replaced with but accompanied by headship, which involves both leadership and responsibility. Wives, on the other hand, were created to be helpers to their own respective husbands (Gen. 2:18), supplementing and not supplanting, complementing and not commanding. Even the Apocalypse has its message for the home (cf. Rev. 3:20).
Therefore, alongside the scarlet thread of redemption one finds a hallowed thread of home life which begins in Eden with the first family and continues throughout history. The home is God's picturesque illustration to man 'of His perfect love as portrayed In the Father; It is the dramatic stage for complete sacrifice as shown in the Son; and it is the object lesson for His illuminating teaching through the Holy Spirit. Without godly homes, there would be no churches. A Christian home has the potential of giving a "'word about God" in a world indifferent to spiritual truths; a Christian family has the opportunity to study the Bible and to learn theology through object lessons built into 'the very structure of the home. ~

Love the Lord thy God (Matt. 22:36-37)
Believe in & on Lord, Savior, Redeemer & Messiah Jesus Christ. (John 3:16)
Repent of your sins. Mark 6:12
Confess. (Romans 10:9)
Be Baptizes in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin. (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21)
Keep the Commandments of God & have the testimony of & faith in Jesus Christ. (Rev. 12:17)

Become a true Christian

Followers of the Way
xxxxx
Mt. Carmel, Illinois 62863

THE HOME IN THE HEART OF SCRIPTURE

by
DOROTHY KELLEY PATTERSON