On May 11 we began a seven-week sermon series called "Faith At Home." This series addresses the various and diverse roles of home life and what it means to live out our faith in Christ at home. The schedule of sermon topics for the series is:
| May 11 Mothers |
May 18 Marriage |
May 25 Divorce |
June 1 Living Single |
June 8 Biblical Sexuality |
June 15 Fathers |
June 22 Children |
During the series we are providing this online question-and-answer page. (Latest questions appear first.) If you have a question related to this series, submit it here.
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| Submitted Sun, Jun 22, 1:52 pm |
| Q: Pastor Eric’s message touched on a lot of good points this morning (June 22nd). As a newly married couple, one issues in particular that I’m interested in is: what does obedience and honor to your parents look like once you are married? When you are united to your wife, you leave your mother and father. I can understand that you still need to honor your parents, but I would think devotion to your wife and your "new" family would come before "obeying" your parents. |
| A: Good question. I would go to a few passages to help answer this here. Exodus 20 tells us that we are to honor our parents. This seems to be the overarching principle that is to drive our interactions with our parents throughout our lives. Ephesians 6:1, 2 and Colossians 3:20 call children to obey because this is right and pleasing to the Lord. Here is where I think I can address your question. In Genesis 2 God says that "for this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and cling to his wife, and they will be one flesh." Here I believe it shows that a new entity, a new home, a new umbrella is formed. The man and woman have left their parents, and now have their own home, and marriage that they will be accountable before God for. Along with this the bible talks about how the son will not be held accountable for the sins of their dads or vice versa (2 Kings 14:6 for example). Here I believe that the principle of accountability comes into play; where the adult is out from under the parent’s umbrella and is now accountable for their actions before God in a different way than as a small child. It is interesting that when a rebellious son was not willing to come under mom and dad’s umbrella God gave provision for strong boundaries, and ultimately strong punishment. There is a time for us to be under the boundaries of mom and dad, and obey them, as Proverbs tells us so often. But again, the goal of parenting is to raise godly independent individuals who make good godly independent decisions and to go live a life pleasing to God. I believe that it is good as a young married couple to obey the godly principles that God taught you through mom and dad. But the principle of honor stands. I believe that you are no longer children in the diminutive sense, but are accountable to God. So, I believe that there is a season of life where we as children are to be under mom and dads umbrella, and learn to obey and honor God through obedience and honor to mom and dad. But there comes a time when you leave mom and dad, and are accountable to God, and obedient to God, and the principle of honor stands as the guide for our relationship with our parents. God gives specifics as to this relationship with parents in the Bible, i.e., the fact that we are to care for our aging parents, (see 1 Tim. 5, Gal 6:10) but again, I think that our obedience is to God, and the principle of honor carries with our folks. I hope this is helpful. |
| Submitted Fri, Jun 6, 7:10 am |
| Q: What are some helpful resources we can use when it comes to biblical sexuality and dealing with sexual sin? |
| A: Let me break it down into several categories: Teaching your children about sex: Raising Your Kids to be Sexually Pure – Richard and Renee Durfiled Lintball Leo’s Not So Stupid Questions About Your Body – Walt Larimore Sex 180: The Next Revolution – Chip Ingram and Tim Walker Passport 2 Purity – Focus on the Family Overcoming Sexual Temptation Pure Desire – Ted Roberts When Lost Men Come Home – David Zailer Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction – Mark Laaser Every Man’s Battle – Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker Help in Dealing with a Spouse who is Struggling with Sexual Temptation Shattered Vows: Hope and Healing for Women Who Have Been Sexually Betrayed Debra Laaser |
