I have been collecting articles on the family for more than twenty
years. While thumbing through my collection I began noticing the
number of essays that lament the current condition of the family, label
the contemporary home as a disaster area and predict a disastrous
future.

While I tend to view these writers as alarmists, I will have to concede
they sometimes make a credible case. Morality, responsibility and
spirituality are clearly in decline. Frequently, the media either
glorifies perversion or portrays it as a normal lifestyle.

But I keep remembering that Jesus came to give life and offer hope. At
times we need to stop and reflect on the century that gave birth to the
church. A third of the population lived in slavery. Babies with
birth defects were exposed and left to die. Men and women gathered in
the Coliseum to witness the gladiatorial contests, which usually ended
in the death of the combatants. The spectators screamed “occide,
occide” (kill, kill) throughout the afternoon. If you think our
president has moral problems, think about Nero who murdered his wife
and his mother.

It was in that sordid environment that the church offered hope, peace
and salvation to families and individuals. The very people, who once
were slaves to their passions and lusts, became new creatures. They
were reconciled to God and with reconciliation came a ministry of
reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Colossians 4:9-10).

Instead of wringing our hands in despair we need to shine light in a
dark world. We have this promise when we do. Folks will ” . . . see
your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

It would be unrealistic to think we could salvage every bad
relationship and right every wrong, but our efforts will not be
fruitless. One morning a man was observed throwing starfish back into
the sea that had been washed ashore by the incoming tide the night
before. An observer told the man he was foolish. There were too many
starfish. He could not expect to save them all. He picked up another
starfish and threw it back. He said, “I saved that one, didn’t I?”