What a Christian Home is Not

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:1-4

Christian homes have great expectations. Sometimes those expectations generate more frustration than necessary, as if we feel every home should be an Americana/Puritan mixture of the Cleavers, the Griffiths, and the Billy Grahams. Pastor and author Stephen Bly in his book, How To Be A Good Dad, describes what a spiritual home is not:

“A home is not a place:

Where the most often repeated phrase heard from the children is, ‘Yes, Mother, I’d be happy to help out.’

Where every family member sits still during the prayer before meals, at times, even begging Dad to pray longer.

Where there are no unmade beds, dirty clothes tossed in closets, petrified spaghetti noodles in the pan in the sink, or half-eaten Christmas candy cane under the couch cushion.

Where Missy spends every spare moment after junior high classes knitting socks for needy children overseas.

Where Junior jumps to turn of the TV when the cartoon show presents an unbiblical view of good and evil.

Where the kids often invite their friends to come hear Dad’s weekly morality lecture.”

What it can and should be, will continue tomorrow....

“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.” Proverbs 24:3