THE IMPERATIVE IN CHRISTIAN HOMEMAKING

When a creature is pursued, it runs to its abode-a hole, on top of a tree or in the case of human into a house. If he is near his home of course, that is his first choice. A home is therefore a place of refuge for an escape and solace for the battered. An ideal home is basically made up of father, Mother and the Child. A Christian home is therefore expected to have her members live and relate according to the biblical standards allowing the Christian tenants to guide and direct its members.

Children, we are told are gifts from God; the parents are mere custodians and caretakers so should see themselves as answerable to whatever that goes wrong. It behooves them sincerely play their part, and be seen as having done their best in the raising up of the children, by ensuring as much as possible that the biblical standard are maintained.

St. Paul in Eph. 5 and 6, gave an exhortation on Holy Living and relative duties of Parents, Children and the entire Household. The bible enjoins Christians to be obedient, honest, humble, trustworthy, reliable and prayerful and have manual respect for another. These are core Christian values and we know that most homes are from practicing these.

What then has gone wrong with homes? Who is to blame? How can we retrieve what is lost?
A lot has really gone wrong. Before we turn the blame to our society, we must look inward and see what have left undone, and what we have wrong as the Christian Family.

Parents are the first guides, teachers, friends and confidants of the child. When those “busy” parents in a bid to look for money or in pursuit of higher status, and fame inadvertently abandon the child; child is left unattended to at a very early and formative age. He picks up odd characters that are not in the parents.

Sometimes deprived parents make up for their lost youthful opportunities in their children, giving them undue freedom and such attitude to prove they are wealthy and modern. In such situations they see nothing wrong when their children keep wrong companies and have no regards for authority, law and order.

Christianity must practically zed for it to be appreciated by non-Christians. That is the easiest way to change the society, ensuring that your environments is positively changed for Christ. Let the Christian family show their life style the teaching of our lord and master Jesus Christ. Our relationship with family members, neighbours and friends must show them as indeed the children of light.

We must give enough attention to the word. The bible must take a place of pride in our homes. That will go a long way towards retaining our good children and retrieving our lost children back to Christ. We should sometimes get them to lead in family devotion. The closer we get to God, the more Him we will become.

The family is a mini society, when families are able to raise God-fearing children, the society will have God-fearing citizen. They will witness by living Christ-like; their light will illuminate their surroundings. Children who are raised to appreciate one another, respect personal and public property and conform to the rule of law and will as stated in Psalm 34:14 “depart from evil” and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Conflict, violence, discrimination, disobedience will be minimize and finally be eliminated. This is because the spirit of God will abide with us and there will be peaceful co-existence and feeling of well-being, progress in our homes and on our land to the glory of God.