by Norman Bales

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?"

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