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FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY
We will give priority to fulfilling family responsibilities,
to preserving the sanctity of marriage and to maintaining
divine order in the home.
Priority of the Family
The family is the basic unit of human relationship and as such
is foundational to both society and the church (Genesis 2:18-24).
The divine origin of the family, along with its foundational
character, makes it imperative that we give priority to ministry
to the family, both from a personal and corporate standpoint.
The practice of Christian disciplines and virtues should begin
in the home (Deuteronomy 6:6, 7). Therefore, our families should
establish some pattern for family devotions and should endeavor
to provide a Christian environment in the home (1 Timothy 3:3,
4; 5:8).
Sanctity of Marriage
Marriage is ordained of God and is a spiritual union in which
a man and a woman are joined by God to live together as one
(Genesis 2:24; Mark 10:7). Because of the divine character
of marriage, it is a lifelong commitment with the only clear
biblical allowance for divorce being fornication (Matthew 5:32;
19:9). Sexual involvement, either before marriage or with someone
other than the marriage partner, is strictly forbidden in Scripture
(Exodus 20:14; 1 Corinthians 6:15-18). Understanding the sanctity
of marriage, partners should strive to maintain a happy, harmonious
and holy relationship. Should divorce occur, the church should
be quick to provide love, understanding and counsel to those
involved. The remarriage of divorced persons should be undertaken
only after a thorough understanding of and submission to the
scriptural instructions concerning this issue (Matthew 19:7-9;
Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:2, 3; 1 Corinthians 7:2,
10, 11). Should a Christian desire to remain single, this decision
should be respected and should be seen as a viable scriptural
alternative (II Corinthians 7:8, 32-34).
Divine Order in the Home
When God created man, He created them male and female (Genesis
1:27). He gave them distinctly different characteristics (1
Corinthians 11: 14, 15; 1 Peter 3:7) as well as different responsibilities
(Genesis 3:16-19; 1 Peter 3:1-7). In God's order, the husband
is head of the home (Ephesians 5:22-31; Colossians 3:18, 19),
parents are to nurture and admonish their children (Ephesians
6:4, Colossians 3:21), and children are to obey and honor their
parents (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20). In
order for harmony to exist in the home, God's order of responsibility
must be observed.
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