The family has been called the backhone of civilization and history seems to support that declaration. But today we hear that the American home is in jeopardy. The problems in volved are staggering and mind-boggling. It has become increasingly evident that something needs to be done and done soon to preserve the home as it should be.

This statement comes as no surprise to anyone and the statistics are very well known that show more than half of the marriages end to divorce. More than half of the teenage marriages end in divorce in the first five years, and according to one authority, more than half of these brides are pregnant at the altar, so that many homes begin with two strikes against them.

It is not enough merely to express concern for the American home as is being done this year with the White House Conference on the Family. But it will take more than that. What we need in America is a return to biblical principles and Christian practices in regard to family life.

The wide range of activities and interests of the different members of the family, the variety of time schedules, together with the social pressures involved in “keeping up with the Joneses” all make people seem too busy for God, and this sometimes affects even Christian homes. Parents must weigh carefully the priorities in all of these matters. To this end it seems important then to remind ourselves of some of the basic principles involved.

We as Christians need to remember that the home is established by God for His glory and for the good of mankind. We need to remember also that the Christian home is where sinners live: sinners who are saved by grace but who still have to deal with the problem of sin in the life of every member of the house hold; sinners involved in the life-long process of sanctification seeking to grow more and more like Jesus Christ. A truly Christian home is one where sinners not only live but also know what to do about sin with the help of the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ influences every facet of life and this should he evident in the Christian home. Someone has said that if Christianity doesn’t work at home, it doesn’t work.

The Bible has much to say concerning the responsibility of parents toward each other and toward their children. The first, of course, is the command to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And this is closely followed by the command of Christ “that ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12). This kind of love will he reflected in the care, training and discipline of the children. It will help the parents to follow God’s command in Deuteronomy 6:7, “Thou shalt teach them [the commandments of God] diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sitteth in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way.” The Psalmist expresses this responsibility in a very beautiful way in Psalm 78, especially in verse 7, “That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.”

The Bible also gives some striking examples of those who faithfully followed these commandments for instruction of children. Of Abraham. it is said in Genesis 18:19, “he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just.” Joshua was able to declare in Joshua 24:15, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” And Paul comments about the faith exemplified in the family of Timothy.

Recently this writer was speaking about the “Priesthood of Parents.” I emphasized the fact that Christian parents should not only present their children to God in dedication, baptism, and prayer, but they should also present God to their children. Every pastor is thrilled when he hears young people testify “My parents led me to the Lord” or “I have never known the time when I did not love Jesus as my Savior.” Yet this should he a common testimony of the children reared in our Christian homes. And one way to encourage this is in family devotions or family worship.

Dr. Tim LaHaye says, “The family altar can he the most powerful single influence in the home.” The family altar is the best place for the children to learn about God, right attitudes toward God, and how to worship Him both at home anti in the public church service. It is where children develop the ability to concentrate on the meaning and message. Some school teachers have testified that children who read in family worship are generally much better readers at school. The time of family devotions is the best time for children to learn to pray.

Dr. James Dobson of Focus On The Family testified concerning his dedicated Christian parents and the fact that they told him that he actually learned to pray before he learned to talk. He learned to imitate the sounds that they made in their family devotions before he could communicate actual words. I am sure that other parents share this same fine testimony concerning the value of family worship.

Some have said the family that prays together stays together. This seems to be supported by the survey of Christian marriages taken some time ago by Dr. Pitirum Sorokin of Harvard University. That survey showed “where the family practice of Bible study and prayer is daily observed, there is only one divorce in every 1,015 marriages.” It appears that not only is divorce practically eliminated from families that have family devotions, but that much of the heartache and unhappiness associated with present day marriages finds little place in their homes. What a contrast with the prevalent divorce rate in this country.

It would seem that the importance of family devotions can hardly be over emphasized, especially at a time when many Christian homes are finding it increasingly more difficult to maintain this time-honored duty of the truly Chris tian home.

Some suggestions may be in order to help make our family devotions more meaningful. Set some goals, both immediate and long range. J. I. Packer says to be truly wise in the Bible sense is to be able to see and to choose the best goals along with the surest way of accomplishing them. Our “nurture and admonition should work to this end for our children. The family worship time should be worship and “enjoying God and His Word” as well as starting the children on a trail of growth in true spiritual wisdom.

They must learn that God never makes a mistake in our lives even though problems come. The sad things are His way of drawing us to Himself as well as teaching us lessons and helping us to grow more like Him. We should set such goals and see that family devotion time contributes to them. It should help to watch their attitudes carefully to he sure they don’t lose interest and to choose a variety of activities for their time with God, depending on His grace to guide us. We want them to come to see all of life in relation to God and learn to depend on Him as well as to obey His Word.

In the back of our minds there should always be the desire that the children shall grow up to take a responsible part in God’s kingdom, but we work on it in the “now,” and let our program fit them as they develop. We should keep it simple, yet there are times when adult discussion on deep and vital concerns have impressed the children with the fact that their parents deal with issues in the light of Gods Word and seek His help in daily life.

It is important to set a regular time for family devotions and make it a habit which has high priority in the home. Read a passage of Scripture, the length of which may he determined largely by the age of the children and their ability to comprehend. Bible story books may be more meaningful for the younger children. Schoolland’s Book of Bible Stories, Vos’ Story Bible, or Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible and many others may he used (see resources on p. 8). Devotional helps such as Daily Bread and family A/tar also give variety and help. Some parents find it very helpful to ask questions of the children about the passage and its appli cation.

The prayer time should also he deter mined somewhat by the age and attention span of the children involved. These prayers should always involve thanks giving to God and intercession on behalf of the individual members of the family. Young children like to give suggestions for prayer for neighbors, friends, missionaries, or those who are sick. Here children can learn to pray and to pray effectively. They learn to claim Gods promises and to thank Him for answered prayers.

Finally, here are some observations from personal experiences. As a child in our home with a widowed mother and six small children, our family devotions were important and regular, hut not according to any rigid schedule. We were taught also to have our own private devotions, even in a cold room by kerosene lamp light. These habits stuck and became a vital part of every life. All of the five homes established by these children have developed even better and more meaningful programs of family devotions.

My wife and I, convinced since child hood of the importance of such devotions, found it necessary to maintain the practice in our own home and with our children. Here again, not as a rigid, unchanging custom, but as an important and regular part of the life of the home. Of course, there were times when it was missed and sometimes it was very brief, hut we tried to make it practical, especially for the children. They have since testified to the value of these family devotions.

As grandparents we experience a good deal of satisfaction when we observe each of our own children doing a better job with family devotions in each home than we think we did in ours. We see a good variety from time to time. We have observed some excellent response by their children as practical discussions are held and applications are made to daily activities of the different members of the family. We are reminded of the message in Psalm 78:5-7 and thank God for His grace and His faithfulness.