Monday, April 29, 2013

The Offense of Family Reformation

Family Reformation  THE LEGACY of SOLA SCRIPTURA in CALVIN'S GENEVA
By Scott T. Brown

"A people who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted because their counter cultural lifestyles stick out like a sore thumb.  When family patterns are reformed, it is so public that everyone notices.  Family, friend, co-worker and church member are easily offended by family reforms.  The tumult from the reforms of  family life that Calvin experienced in Geneva caused the same kind of turmoil that every father and daughter experience when they change from immodest to modest clothing.  I have a friend who received hate mail because he and his daughter objected to modern dating patterns.  They determined that she should have her first kiss at the altar instead of in the back seat of a car before marriage.  They felt the modern dating patterns of the culture were defiling, so they defied the social structure to be faithful to the biblical commands for sexuality.  This attempt at family reform was met with hatred from the Christian community.  The truth is, you may get more compassion from church goers if your teen daughter gets pregnant, than if she dresses modestly.  Family reformers are an offense to those who fear man and maintain the status quo.  When the power of the gospel begins work in our hearts to change us, and then tangible lifestyle changes occur, we become a source of irritation to those who hate the Word of God".

My husband just finished reading Scott Brown's book.  While he was reading he would periodically point out  portions of it for me to read.  All I can say to this paragraph is been there, done that.  Or perhaps better stated, been there going through that.

If you are going through something similar we know it is not easy!  A dear friend told me many years ago that Christian parents walk on a narrow road and when your children reach adolescence the road gets ever more narrow.  She shared with me how they had lost friends because of the decisions they made for their family.  I gasped then.  I understand now.

Psalm 25:4
Make me know Thy ways, O Lord; Teach me Thy paths.  


3 comments:

  1. Completely understand!! We have had people "try to understand" why we as a family have chose this narrow path concerning our girls but then have the nerve to insist that we surely won't raise our sons the same way. What? You've got to be kidding, that's what I want to say but I just sit there amazed that they think WE are the crazy ones in trying to raise our kids in a more Godly way. We don't have this book but need to get it. We have some of Scott Browns listening CD's and enjoy them so much.

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  2. Stephanie, I understand too. I have a teen girl and a teen boy. The Lord is faithful, but it is hard to feel like they don't really fit in at school OR church. Thank you for posting this. God bless you & yours.

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  3. It is also amazing when the children are in their early 20's still living a life for the Lord, on their own and the insulting comments that they get, because people seem to think that they need to "get a life". When they choose to honor God with their lives. Even the doctors jump in and think there must be something wrong because they are still virgins, or don't have a "boyfriend/girlfriend" It isn't easy. I pray the Lord will help today's young people through these over sensualized days. Great post!

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