Where Have All the Families Gone?
By Travis K. McSherley

I have two loving parents who have been married over twenty years, both sets of grandparents who are still living and at or past their golden wedding anniversaries, and one great-grandmother, who is the widow of a preacher.

In today's culture, I suppose I have a pretty "strange" family, even though my family setup is supposedly the "traditional" one.  This tradition seems to going out of "style" in our world today, however.  Though my family has been enormously blessed, most of my closest friends, and some of my extended family members, live in broken homes (and I don't hesitate to use the term broken).  In fact, the odds would say that many of you reading this are a part or have been a part of a "step"-family.

Unfortunately, it seems that our increasingly liberal society has accepted and even embraced the current trends of "diversity" within America's families, instead resorting to an "out with the old, in with the new philosphy."  This "new philosophy" includes such family lifestyles as homosexual households, single-parent (by choice) households, co-habitation parenting (as opposed to marriage), and others.  According to the May 28 issue of Newsweek, only 74 percent of white children, 36 percent of black children, and 64 percent of Hispanic children live in two-parent households, as compared to 90 percent, 58 percent, and 78 percent (respectively) 30 years ago (pg. 48).

These are staggering - and heartbreaking - statistics that demonstrate the beating the so-called "traditional" family has taken.  This attack has taken many forms, but one of the most brutal is undoubtedly the devaluing of the once "sacred institution" of marriage.  We seem to find it a nuisance to put forth the lifelong commitment required for being married.  And divorces are too much of a hassle, so that the easier solution is to simply "live together."

And as marriage becomes apparently less useful, at least in many people's minds, they also pursue an integration of genders.  After all, men and women certainly don't need each other any more.  Rosanna Hertz, as quoted in the afore-mentioned Newsweek article, said, "Twenty years ago middle-class women believed it took a man to have a child, but that's no longer true.  We've reached a watershed moment" (pg. 49).

This logic (or lack thereof) seems to be based, among other things, around sufficient financial resources - which are hardly enough to produce a happy home.  Financial security does not automatically make someone ready - or able - to be a parent.  Speaking from personal experience, I grew up on a farm, with my family often pinching and struggling to make ends meet.  But I would never even consider trading my happy childhood with Mom and Dad for a more wealthy one with Mom and Money.

The American family truly is in an endangered state, with seemingly little being done to prevent its destruction.  The first step in solving the problems, however, is to realize that they really are problems.  Depsite what might be popularly labeled "diversity" or "progress," the trends of homosexual, single-parent, and non-married homes are serious crises, along with the obvious abusive or broken homes.  These attacks on the family threaten the backbone of our society as much or more than any other issue.  It is blatantly clear that the devil is out to tarnish and destroy the family structure that God designed.

Please pray continually for your family and for the families of our nation and world.  Way too many of them fall prey to divorce, abuse, or the new, "trendy" family lifestyles.  But take a stand, as Joshua did, and say, "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."  Husbands, be strong and supportive leaders in your homes and love your wives as Christ loves you.  Wives, care for your households and submit to and support your husbands.

Maybe, before it's too late, we willll look at God's will for the family as revealed in His Word, and we'll realize that, just maybe, Father knows best after all; because just as the years before and the years to come, THIS is the year of our Lord.