THE FADING POWERS OF FAMILY AND CHURCH


Time was when family, church and school worked together to nurture children and provide stability for family life. Now the family is fragmented with its members rushing off in different directions. Churches have become clubs for the shrinking faithful.

Money is a good indicator of social power. Big government, big business and big health services command huge money flows. In the meantime, families are working overtime to stay ahead of the debt load. Churches are losing membership and funding and are frantically trying to learn to do with less.

The family problem is fragmentation. The church problem mission creep - trying different things that aren’t working. If the family is losing touch with itself, its’ solution is a return to togetherness - eating, talking and playing together. If the churches are looking for a clear mission, they should find a focus on the family since the family is the primary source of faith.

The powers of both families and churches are waning because they are both spinning in their own squirrel cage that goes nowhere. Maybe they could get it right if they rediscovered that they need each other. Families, together, need to discover the spiritual dimension that is essential to family well-being. Churches need to serve the young families and individuals to bring today’s world into the church world.


This is not a casual challenge:

Where is family life without togetherness?

Where are we and our society without a spiritual dimension?

Can churches avoid a lingering death without young families and individuals?

Where is our society without family stability and lasting values?


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