The Significance of the Christian Family to the Local Church
The Christian family must be a consistent object of ministry in the local church. For our purposes, we designate the season between Mother's Day and Father's Day to take up the particular ministry issues of marriage and family. Pastors must not forget the great struggles that continually face the homes within their congregations. But equipping husbands and wives, mothers and fathers to build their homes on the principles of God's Word accomplishes much more than easing tensions in the individual homes. This ministry strengthens the whole church.
The local church can easily and foolishly attempt to substitute the ministry of the home with programs for men, women, and children in the church; but this practice provides no legitimate substitute. A husband who earnestly seeks to know his wife, honor his wife, and love his wife has far greater impact on her spiritual life than a dozen ladies' meetings. Parents who daily instruct and correct their children in the fear of the Lord, and who model the joy and pleasure of life in Christ will imprint true Christian piety on their sons and daughters. Large budgets, new facilities, well trained staff, and exciting activities in the local church can never replace the powerful ministry of a well-ordered home. This does not mean that the church-ministry cannot be impactful and even helpful to the ministry of the family; however it must not serve as an alternative.
The more spiritual energy we pour into fathers and husbands, mothers and wives, parents and grandparents, the more enduring spiritual fruit we will see in the lives of the next generation. Spiritual shallowness among young adults is a deficiency common to evangelical churches today. This is best addressed under the Biblical model of family discipleship. In Tennyson's Idylls of the King, the monk Ambrosius recognized that Sir Percivale was a knight of the round-table by his speech and manner. He explained to Percivale that the knights of the round-table are like coins, and each one by their character bears the image of the king himself. Thus a godly mother and father powerfully shape and mold the character of their children and grandchildren. This divine principle (Deuteronomy 6; Psalm 78; Ephesians 6; Colossians 3) cannot be replaced by innovative ministry in the local church no matter how sincere our motives.
For the local church to be what Christ has called it to be, individual adults must love Christ and be committed to glorifying Him. Individual devotion to Christ then spills over into family love and commitment to the glory of God. Consequently, the family who loves the Lord and is committed to His glory becomes a stronghold of faith and holiness within the community of the saints. The principle looks like this: Individual devotion > Family piety > Christ-honoring church fellowship. Time invested in shepherding families will return large dividends to the local church and great glory to our Lord.