The Father & Child Relationship

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. [asv]

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Ephesians 5:25-29 (nkjv)

25 . . . just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. . . . 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

In order to understand and appreciate the imagery of God’s People under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit chose several figures (illustrations, examples, metaphors, etc.), one of these being the people of God as the Lord’s bride and He as the husband. To help us appreciate the beauty and importance of this metaphor (we’ll use this word throughout this series) we may be helped by going back to the marriage relationship in the very beginning.

1. Beginning at the beginning we find that it was the Almighty God who created the male and then the female. Man had nothing to do with it (he was asleep at the time), and certainly not Eve (she was a part of Adam’s body at the time, a rib). We read:

Gen 2:18 ¶ And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet (suitable helper) for him. 19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 21 ¶ And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Here we have in this union the beginning of marriage (its original charter, which was later confirmed by our Lord, as the basis on which all regulations are to be framed.) It is evident that the intent was for one husband and his one wife (monogamy) to establish the original law of marriage.

Mat 19:4,5 And he answered (the Pharisees) and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning (note “at the beginning”) made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

1Cor 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh (note the Gen 2:24 statement).

With the rampant fornication, adultery and other sexual abuses today, have the preachers of the Word neglected this basic, foundational and fundamental truth of one man for one woman for one lifetime? My judgment is a resounding YES!

Is there any justification based upon what is recorded in the previous dispensations for the lax and overly generous rationalizations of sexual promiscuity being offered today? I offer my judgment based upon what the Scriptures actually say, NO!

Think and study with me please and keep in mind that we are talking in this series about the New Covenant under which all men today live and are to be judged, and specifically the Simplicity And Purity In Christ. It may well be an “interesting” matter to study how God tolerated the many marital offenses in previous dispensations, but we are “interested” in how we under the new dispensation are to live – and be judged.

2. The original law of God was violated in after-times, when corrupt practices began to be introduced. Be reminded of Jeremiah’s condemning statement centuries later to a wicked Israel, “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer 10:23)

It perhaps began with the lust for more than one wife, and the attraction of the female body:

Gen 4:19 And Lamech

took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. . . . 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Disobedience against most laws, and in this case marriage, does not happen overnight, but over a period of time, one small step at a time. Is this not the case now? And, where will it end with all the perversions that are not only being tolerated, but today being made “legal.”

Gen 16:1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

We do not ever question God’s foreknowledge, but do ponder if this was with God’s permission, or approval. Our judgment is that it was with neither, for this son did not receive the promise reserved for Abraham’s offspring, and has caused from the first even to this present day much of the world’s misery, man against man. (See 22:21-24 28:8, 9; 29:23-30 etc.)

The law of taking a deceased brother’s wife and bringing children in his name is introduced in the case of Judah and his son Onan. (See Gen 38:8ff) Judah was the son of Leah, and one of the stronger influences among the brothers of Jacob. We note that it was Judah who ordered his son to produce a child by his brother’s wife, but it was the Lord who struck Onan down.

Perhaps Jesus is to explain later why the Almighty “tolerated” certain things, that He would probably never have permitted or approved. In Matthew 19:7-13,

“They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

7 “Then why did Moses say a man could merely write an official letter of divorce and send her away?” they asked. 8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce as a concession to your hard-hearted wickedness, but it was not what God had originally intended. 9 And I tell you this, a man who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.” 10 Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “Then it is better not to marry!” 11 “Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps. 12 Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made that way by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone who can, accept this statement.”

Please note that it is stated that it was Moses who “commanded,” and “suffered you!”

4. Our Lord in his day corrected many false notions then existing on the subject of marriage and placed it, as a divine institution, on the higher grounds. The children of Onan concerned inheritance in a land; now Jesus talks about an eternal inheritance.

Mat 22:23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Polygamy (Not a Bible word. Origin from Greek polugamos 'often marrying') was acknowledged in the Mosaic law and made the basis of legislation, and continued to be practiced all down through the period of Jewish history to the Captivity, after which there is no instance of it on record.

Under the New Covenant Paul and Peter state clearly and forcefully the duties of husband and wife in marriage.

Eph 5:22-33 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Col 3:18-19 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

1Pe 3:1-7 1 Likewise you wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that some, though they do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see your reverent and chaste behavior. 3 Let not yours be the outward adorning with braiding of hair, decoration of gold, and wearing of fine clothing, 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable jewel of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 So once the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves and were submissive to their husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are now her children if you do right and let nothing terrify you. 7 Likewise you husbands, live considerately with your wives, bestowing honor on the woman as the weaker sex, since you are joint heirs of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered.

No one questions the inspiration of Hebrews. The writer states simply, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (13:4). Furthermore, the prohibition of marriage is noted as one of the marks of those who in “latter times” will depart from the faith, “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth” (1Ti 4:3).

5. The marriage relationship had long been used as a fit example to represent the union between God and his people. (See Isa 54:5; Jer 3:1-14; Hos 2:9, 10,20) Under the New Covenant the same figure is employed in representing the love of Christ to his saints.

Eph 5:25-27 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Rev 19:7-9 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

In the spiritual realm, that Israel was the beloved bride of God is clearly taught in the Scriptures. In Jeremiah 3:14 He says to Israel, "I am married to you." In 31:34, He says, "I was an husband unto them."

But as it was with the sheep that wandered, and the vine that became unfruitful, so it was with Israel that God lovingly called His wife. Scripture after Scripture tells of Israel's unfaithfulness to her Husband. And, time after time the prophets warned of the evil consequences that would surely result from this infidelity. As an example Jeremiah writes:

"The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord. And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah" (Jer. 3:6-11).

In spite of Israel's unfaithfulness as His wife, God did what any loving husband would do. He plead, and continued to plead with his bride to repent. He might well have said, "I still love you. Please come back." Jeremiah records God as saying:

"Return, you backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you:" (Jer. 3:12-14).

One gets the impression of the Lord's disappointment and anger from Jeremiah 23:10: "For the land is full of adulterers," He says, ". . . and their course is evil, and their force is not right."

It is interesting that even among the leaders of Israel this infidelity is noted: "I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah" (Jer. 23:14).

And as He continues to plead with Israel to repent He promises better leadership: "I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding" (3:15).

It is impossible to separate the Lawgiver from the Law that He gave, and so Israel was of course bound by the law of Moses as long as that law was in existence. They were in effect married to that law as if a woman married to her husband. Paul argues this point in Romans 7:

"Know ye not brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law), how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man" (Rom. 7:1-3).

But a better day and a better law was coming, at such time God's Israel would be married to another. In Jeremiah 31:31-34 God speaks of this better time to come:

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Paul uses the illustration of the new marriage relationship to refer to this new arrangement under the New Covenant. In the Romans 7 context Paul says:

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (v.4).

The people of God were now to be married to another, "even to him who is raised from the dead" They were not married to Jesus while He lived upon the earth, but married to Him that "is raised from the dead." If indeed the church is the bride of Christ, this marriage took place, not before, but after He arose from the dead.

Everyone that enters into a serious relationship with another ought to have a purpose for doing so. Casual relationships in a matter as serious as marriage, and with Christ, are most often dishonest and rarely successful. With a spouse, the old saying that “what you put into a thing is what you get out of it” is undoubtedly true. Someone once said that “marriage is a 50/50 proposition.” Not so! To be successful it must be a 100/100 percent affair. The “let’s give it a try and see what happens” relationship

is unquestionably dishonest, and only rarely successful.

The same is true – perhaps especially true – when it comes to coming to Christ. The Risen Christ is to write later to the Laodiceans,

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Rev 3:14-16).

What was the purpose of this marriage to Christ? Paul says, "That we should bring forth fruit unto God." Apparently the idea of spiritual children is not intended here, but the fruit that characterizes the blessings and benefits of the relationship itself. Individuals enter into the marriage relationship first of all for their own benefit. They have mutual aims and purposes that will result in mutual enjoyment, mutual satisfaction and mutual blessing. Now what was this purpose?

In our nation today marriage is taken for granted as the highest of all human experiences. It is the preferred status for the vast majority of all people.

Furthermore, it is generally accepted that nothing is better in human life than a good marriage, and certainly few things are worse than a bad one. "The highest happiness on earth is in marriage," said William Lyons Phelps, "and every man who is happily married is a successful man even if he has failed in everything else, and every man whose marriage is a failure is not a successful man even if he has succeeded in everything else." We acknowledge that this statement was uttered from a past generation, but there are many, including this writer, who feel it is still true.

With so important a relationship as marriage, it is unthinkable that the Scriptures would not give us insights into its purposes, as well as principles concerning our conduct toward one another in fulfilling these purposes. The first is considered in this article and the latter in subsequent articles.

Paul wrote to all the saints in Corinth, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2Co 11:2).We believe that both Scripture and experience teach that the first purpose of marriage is companionship of husband and wife.

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

God could have formed the woman out of the dust of the earth as he had formed Adam, but he did not. It is conjectured that if this had been the case, she would have been an altogether separate being in Adam's eyes, with no natural connection with him. Being taken from his side she was literally a part of him, with equality in all respects, yet being in subjection to him as her head. (1 Cor. 11:3.) She is the "glory of the man, for the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man" (vs.7-9). It is highly significant that she was taken from his side,

"Not from his head that she might rule over him, Nor from his feet that he might walk upon her, But out of his side to be companion with him, Under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved."

By comparison and emphasis, God could have saved mankind in some other way other than through the blood/death of his sinless son. But as Eve came out of Adam, the saved soul comes out of Christ. “For this is my blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins,” said Jesus. (Mat 26:28; Mar 14:24) Significant statements of Jesus at the last Supper before his crucifixion are recorded by John:

Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever” (Joh 6:53-58).

Adam so stated, and God so approved, that a man should leave his father and his mother when married and shall cleave (be joined, glued) unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh. (Gen 2:24.) They are inseparably joined together, and from the beginning this was God's plan, so stated Jesus. (Mat 19:8.) The same truth prevails when one believes in Christ as the Savior, is immersed into him. From that moment on the words of the beautiful song should be clearly understood and appreciated:

“Jesus is all the world to me; my life, my joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day, Without Him I would fall; My friend in trials sore; I go to Him for blessings, and He gives them o’er and o’er. And true to Him I’ll be; Oh, how could I this friend deny, When He’s so true to me? I want no better friend; I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him when Life’s fleeting days shall end.

There are many beautiful lessons in the comparison of a loving husband and being joined in marriage, and an even more beautiful one in one being joined to the Savior. But simply, sincere love for one another – husband to wife and vice-versa, and every saved soul as being married to Christ, must entail unbridled concern for the total person; mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. This is the basis of marital companionship.

The second purpose of marriage is for reproduction. "Male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, . . ." (Gen. 1:27,28).

In olden times childlessness was considered an affliction. (Gen. 29:32.) Rachel cried, "Give me children or else I die" (Gen. 30:1). "Children are the heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward" (Psalm 127:5). Elizabeth was childless because she was barren, not intentionally. (Luke 1:7.)

The conclusion is that when people follow God's law in the matter of being fruitful, they not only bless their world, but they bless themselves. All of God's laws benefit man. A normal man feels the need of children, and wants grandchildren. "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers" (Proverbs 17:6).

It would be difficult to see how any marriage could be pleasing to God which (where procreation is possible) did not produce children. Now to compare this belief with one being a companion of the Christ, being immersed into Him to receive the very life that He possesses, is it not reasonable to conclude that God’s bride should bear children for her husband? Good and virtuous women have produced (won) more offspring for the Father who “is not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance” (2Pe 3:9) than possibly men who head the family and preach in public. In most every congregation that this writer has visited it was the godly women who were the real strength and stability. It was my own mother who taught me most of the Word that I know, and instilled in me the principles of obedience to the Heavenly Father.

1 ¶ Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (1Pe 3:1-7).

A third purpose of marriage is the training of children. Abraham was commended of the Lord when he said,

"For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him" (Gen. 18:19).

Thus we see the early history of the requirements of the Lord concerning the training of children, that they "may keep the way of the Lord," and walk in his path.

"These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou riseth up. And thou shall bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates" (Deut. 6:6-9)

The above reveals the responsibility of the family of Israel concerning the teaching of the members of the family. The history of the family is the history of education. The family is the first educational institution that we have on earth and God places upon Abraham and the other patriarchs, as well as upon the Hebrew family the responsibility of training.

This responsibility did not end with the Old Testament. Paul instructed the Ephesians to bring up their children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). The Lord required that the overseers of the church should have their children in subjection -- they should train them in the ways of the Lord. (1 Tim. 3:4. He calls upon the children to obey their parents in all things; "for this is well pleasing unto God." Fathers were warned to not provoke their children "to wrath, lest they be discouraged" (Col. 3:21).

If this responsibility of the family is neglected, this teaching will not be done adequately, for there is no other provision made in the way of things that can satisfactorily substitute for the Christian home.

One of the greatest frauds being committed in our society today is by parents who have abdicated their God-given rights and obligations in the raising of their children. In many instances this is done so slowly and gradually that parents do not really realize that they have actually lost their children to those who have sought their time and attention. Many schools, well meaning as they might have been, have literally won the affection of boys and girls by providing them many of the things that parents by their very parenthood should have provided. Many voices are constantly calling for the involved participation of youth and the home is paying the price in terms of diminished family unity and rejection of moral values long thought necessary to the well being of the community. In many instances young people have been helped. In more instances the family has been damaged and loyalties belonging to home have been usurped by outside influences.

The philosopher Plato wisely stated the "the life of the nation is only the life of the family writ large". History shows that when leadership desires to change a nation it first changes the attitude about the family. When ancient Sparta turned to a dictatorship the first step was to eliminate the family unit. Men and women lived apart and children were turned over to the state and taught to be loyal to the state. Hitler's Germany attacked the concept of family life and turned over the normal family function of raising children to the state. One of the products of institutional religion is the idea that the church -- not parents -- has the responsibility of training children in Christian thought and practice. This is contrary to both the Word and the Spirit of God.

There are distinct purposes in the holy institution of the Adams and Eves of this world. To the degree that these are understood there is hope of success. As long as man and woman enter into the relationship of marriage with no greater motive than that of self satisfaction from the enjoyment of the relationship with one of the opposite sex, there will continue to be substantial failure.

What about the bride of Christ? We are complaining all over our brotherhood that our young people are no longer interested in religion! And so, we need to build bigger gymnasiums, have more fellowships and entertainments, and let our children-of-God to be find the answers to their life problems in peer groups, being tutored under “youth directors” who often do not have children of the ages they are trying to serve, spiritual or natural. Is this the right way to go? I think not!

In a later lesson we will discuss the shepherd and his sheep. But in the meantime, who sees that a young lamb is fed, and protected, so he will grow to maturity? Is it the shepherd of the flock, or the mother sheep? There will be a time when the shepherd of the flock will provide the collective feeding and protection of the mature child of God, but it is the Bride, the ones who brought the young one into the world, who has this earlier responsibility!