The Bible warns us that “if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another” (Gal 5:15). Conflict has the ability to destroy the home. So we dare not ignore it or just live with it. We should be able to solve conflicts.
Because people are sinners, some conflicts remain with us. Some people will never submit to biblical standards for living, and they will thus continue to be a cause of conflict. You can’t change other people, and you can’t pick your relatives. All you can do is try your best to manage conflict and reduce it as much as possible.
Within your own, immediate family, you need not live with continuous conflict. If everyone in the family agrees to follow biblical standards, then conflict should be fairly rare and usually quite minor. It’s only as we stray from biblical standards that conflict becomes more significant. As a family grows in its commitment to God and his ways, conflict should reduce. As a family strays from its commitment to God and his ways, we should not be surprised if conflict increases.
And I should also say that if children are experiencing abuse within the home, they need to talk to someone outside the family—me or another authority. That’s one family secret that children do not need to keep.
Don’t tolerate continuous conflict in your home. Do what is necessary to address conflict and reduce it or even eliminate it. God wants the Christian home to be happy, peaceful, and harmonious. Don’t settle for anything less. Read More ...
If we want to enjoy a peaceful, happy home, we must avoid communication that is deceitful, angry, foul, and malicious. Instead, we should use words that are true, that build up, and that extend grace to those that hear us. Read More ...
What are you teaching your children if you allow them regularly to ignore your commands? What are you teaching if you allow the child habitually to delay obedience? You are teaching that the child is in charge; that the child has the right to ignore his parents. Read More ...
God’s expectation is that spouses cleave to one another in a monogamous, exclusive, life-long covenant of marriage. God expects you to be a one-woman man or a one-man woman. We should not allow anything into our lives that threatens marital fidelity. Read More ...
If we want to avoid the distress that accompanies disobedience to God’s law, then the thing to do is to commit ourselves to walking in his law and observing God’s ordinances. Only if the nation as a whole returns to a basic respect for Christian morality can we expect God to bless our nation again. We need a national revival, a wholesale repentance and return to God and to biblical morality. Read More ...
Fathers in particular have a very important set of contributions to make to their children as they grow up. Fathers contribute differently to boys and to girls. All kids need parenting, but boys need one set of things from their dads, and girls need something else. Fathers should be careful to provide what their children need from them, especially those things that no one else can provide. Read More ...
Marriage is a partnership, and when the partnership is mutually beneficial, it’s a wonderful experience. My advice for those who are of marriageable age and status is to find a partner with whom you can experience the joys of marriage. Read More ...
This is the foundation for understanding the Christian family. God created us and he created the family. Our Creator has certain expectations for the family, and it’s in our best interests to fulfill those expectations. Because each family is composed of sinners, family problems are common. But we can overcome family problems when are committed to following Christ and to following the biblical guidelines for family living. Read More ...
Does music matter? Does it matter to God? Yes, there can be no doubt about that. Should it matter to us? Obviously it should. The Bible contains hundreds of references to music and its influence. We affirm God’s truth to one another through music. Music speaks to our emotions and helps us express our worship to God. Music matters to God and it should matter to us. Read More ...
Jesus’ final words command his disciples to be witnesses among the nations. Our job is to bring the Gospel to those who are separated from God because of their sin. We are to proclaim a message of repentance of sin and faith in Christ. We should trust God to enable us through his Spirit to do this great work. All of us should be involved in some way with the great task of spreading the Gospel to every people-group. Read More ...