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The Biblical Family

The defining issue of our day is the battle for the family. Upon the biblical family model rests the future of Western Civilization. The family is the backbone of the Church, the fundamental vehicle for evangelization, and the training ground for the next generation. Contained in this section are articles which address some of the more interesting and controversial elements of the battle for the family and the future of the Christian home.

The Coming of Mahershalalhashbazby Douglas W. Phillips, Esq., November 17, 2008
What’s in a name? Maybe more than you realize. You begin and end your life with it. It is the one moniker that you carry with you all the time, wherever you go. It never leaves you. This article — excerpted from Doug Phillips’ new book, The Little Boy Down the Road — offers humorous anecdotes from the Phillips’ family as they have sought to give their children “Epistemologically Self-Conscious” baby names. Read More
Are Babies a “Drag” on the Economy?by Douglas W. Phillips, Esq., August 14, 2008
Are babies a “drag” on the economy? Those antagonistic to the fruit of the womb would have us believe so. In fact, the vitriol, hatred, and mockery on the Internet that is communicated from the Press, radical leftists, homosexual advocacy groups, and even mean-spirited feminists who profess to be Christians, against precious and prolific families like the Duggars has reached an all time high. Read More

The Rise and Fall and Rise of Motherhood in AmericaMay 9, 2008
Only women can be mothers. Have we forgotten this fundamental? Only a woman can carry in her body an eternal being which bears the very image of God. Only she is the recipient of the miracle of life. Only a woman can conceive and nurture this life using her own flesh and blood, and then deliver a living soul into the world. God has bestowed upon her alone a genuine miracle — the creation of life, and the fusing of an eternal soul with mortal flesh. This fact alone establishes the glory of motherhood. Read More
A Letter to a Grieving Fatherby Marcus Serven, November 14, 2007
John Calvin is best known as a distinguished theologian and leading Protestant Reformer. However, it must be remembered that he functioned first and foremost as a pastor to the congregation of believers at Geneva. This consolatory letter, written by Calvin to Monsieur de Richebourg on the death of his son, reveals a heart that is warm and tender towards those who suffer through the trials of life rather than one which is cold and hard. It is the heart of a true shepherd and pastor to his people. Read More

Calvin and Knox on the Doctrine of Male HeadshipSeptember 5, 2007
The Reformers of the sixteenth century did not acquiesce to the radical egalitarianism that has become the rage in Evangelical circles in our day, but rather affirmed the doctrine of male headship and female submission as taught in the Scriptures. While male headship is not a popular doctrine in the twenty-first century, it is one that has been affirmed by orthodox commentators for millennia. John Calvin and John Knox are two torch-bearers of this position from the Protestant Reformation. Read More
John Calvin on Women Rejoicing in Their Role as HomemakersSeptember 5, 2007
Reformer John Calvin affirmed the role of women as homemakers and urged ladies to rejoice in this station, “[L]et women learn to rejoice when they do their duty, and though the world despise it, let this comfort sweeten all respect they might have that way, and say, ‘God seeth me here, and his Angels, who are sufficient witnesses of my doings, although the world do not allow of them.’” Read More

Ask Now of the Days That Are Pastby Wesley Strackbein, August 1, 2007
As Moses prepared to go the way of the earth, he gave the children of Israel a history of God’s workings through their family heritage and charged them to “remember the days of old.” Do you understand your personal family history — both the good and the bad? This article offers probing lessons from Moses’ final discourses to the children of Israel on why it is important for God’s people to understand and explain to their children their family’s background so that they might have hope and overcome. Read More
The Debate over ‘Same-Sex Marriage’by William Einwechter, June 21, 2006
Today our nation is locked in a debate over whether or not we ought to permit “same-sex marriages,” or some sort of “civil union” between homosexuals. This article seeks to survey the debate and explore two reasons why Christians have not been very successful in the debate. Read More

The Tenets of Biblical PatriarchyMay 3, 2006
From time to time, God in His providence, allows not only for the testing of his saints, but for divisions, schisms and heresies to arise, that from such, His Church will grown in maturity and purity of faith, doctrine and practice. It is in the context of such “testing times” that God’s people are often reminded to “open the lost book of the law,” and return to the ancient paths — the eternal, unchanging truths found within the pages of Holy Scripture. Read More
The Feminization of the Familyby William Einwechter, December 8, 2005
Feminism is a radical movement that goes to the very root of the relationship between men and women. In this powerful article, William Einwechter explains six ways in which feminization has destabilized the biblical family. Read More

Living in Sodom: A Case Study, Part IIIby Scott Brown, May 13, 2005
Even though the feminist agenda cheerily shouts, “You can have it all,” and “You’ve come a long way, baby,” daughters have a natural bent toward hopelessness. Everywhere they turn, they are confronted with their inadequacy. Whether it is Barbie or Brittany, Hillary, or Hearst Magazine’s Powerwoman President, daughters can easily fall prey to comparisons that would lead them astray — to desires that would undo them. Read More
Living in Sodom: A Case Study, Part IIby Scott Brown, May 6, 2005
Lot did what is unthinkable to our ears, but his behavior reminds us that there are times in history when fathers disconnect with their daughters. When we look at history, we see a spectrum of behavior regarding daughters. Some periods are worse than others. Lot’s was despicable, but there is a gradation of behavior that expresses the same root problem. While Lot may be on the far end of the scale in the daughter-protection department, we ought not think we are exempt from the root sin that resulted in his abdication. While his actions were extreme, there are many other ways that fathers tend to disconnect protection of their daughters. Read More

Living in Sodom: A Case Study, Part Iby Scott Brown, April 29, 2005
Lot’s story illustrates his devastating syncretism in Sodom. On display is his failure to protect his daughters. While the protection of Lot’s daughters is only one of many themes in the narrative, what is described here gives us a vivid and startling example of what lack of protection by a father looks like and helps us to understand how a father, through poor choices, can abdicate his responsibility bit by bit, resulting in grave peril to his daughters. Read More
Questions Concerning Piercings and Body Mutilationby Douglas W. Phillips, Esq., July 26, 2004
The following article is a response to a Q & A letter sent to Vision Forum Ministries about the very concerning issue of piercings and body mutilation. Read More

Thoughts on the Death of Davidby Douglas W. Phillips, Esq., July 18, 2004
After more than a year of studies in my local church on the life of David, we came this last weekend to the death of David. I preached for 90 minutes on I Kings 1,2 and 1 Chronicles 22, 23, 27 and 28, in a message titled: Farewell Beloved Patriarch: King David Goes Out in A Sullied, But Nonetheless in a Victorious Blaze of Glory. The following are some thoughts developed based on the study and the message. Read More
Why I am Against Bikini Clad Girls and Bare Chested Boys Swimming in My Lakeby Scott Brown, July 11, 2004
Today, the fashions are so pervasively broadcast over every media outlet that everyone dresses the same when they swim. Movies and TV have so popularized nakedness, that if you challenge it, you are not thought of as being very accepting. It is time to return to the Bible and see what the scriptures say about the clothing that we wear. Read More

My Father’s Daughterby Kelly J. Brown, July 8, 2004
This little article is dedicated to my father, who wasn’t going to be content with just reading the scriptures; but in living them out every day... No matter the cost. He has inspired me to live the Holy way, and not what might seem to be the easy way. Read More
Called to the Home — Called to Ruleby Melissa Keen, June 16, 2004
The propriety of Christian, Bible-believing women having careers is a controversial subject in the modern church. However, I believe that God has something to say about everything, even if it is simply a subtly stated principle instead of a direct command or explicit explanation. When tackling any subject, it is vital to use Scripture as the basis for all points of discussion. Following are my personal thoughts and beliefs on the subject and the interpretation of this matter that God has laid on my heart. Read More

Thoughts Regarding the Father-Daughter Relationshipby Katherine Bradrick, April 9, 2004
The following remarkable letter was written by Miss Katherine Bradrick in preparation for the Vision Forum Ministries 2004 Father and Daughter retreat. Katherine provides both practical examples of the importance of the father-daughter relationship and demonstrates the wonderful relationship she has with her beloved papa. Read More
On the Ten Year Anniversary of H.R.6by Douglas W. Phillips, Esq., March 19, 2004
Last month was the ten year anniversary of one of the most historic events in the history of the modern home school movement. In February of 1994, home educators from all fifty states descended on Washington D.C. in person. Meanwhile those who could not come by car or plane sent hundreds of thousands of phone calls to register their opposition to a bill which could have shut down home education. Read More

Exegetical Defense of the Woman as Keeper At Homeby William Einwechter, February 9, 2004
We often speak of the home as being the foundational unit of both church and state. We often say, “As goes the family, so goes all else.” So let us give it the priority it deserves, and return the wife to her indispensable role of helping her husband, nurturing her children, and managing her household. Read More
SOPs For Household Managementby Blaine Pendleton, February 2, 2004
A well-run houshold should reflect the unique mission of the family, the personalities, histories, and priorities of the parents, as well as the number and age of the children, availablility of Christian community, extended family and a score of other important issues. With this in mind I am including for your enjoyment and inspiration, Brother Blaine Pendleton’s Household SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures) by which he manages his household. Read More

On the Anniversary of Roe One Cleric Accuses Christians of Being “Baby Machines”by Douglas W. Phillips, Esq., January 22, 2004
Today, the very anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the very day that we should be rejoicing in life, declaring the antithesis between God’s vision for life and the world’s hatred for children, I received on my desk the most remarkable newsletter I have read in some time. Read More
The Feminism of the Mothers is the Destruction of the Daughtersby Sarah Zes, January 14, 2004
Our obedience or disobedience to the high calling Jesus Christ has given us as women will affect future generations and even the future of this nation. Read More

Jennie Chancey Responds to Titus 2 Cynicsby Mrs. M.L. Chancey, December 10, 2003
I am simply overwhelmed with gratitude for a husband who cherishes my role and does not seek to pull me out of it to supplement his income or take over his God-given role. I am a blessed woman — not a superwoman, but the thankful wife of a truly super man. Read More
A Special Word For Proverbs 31 Tomboysby Rebekah E. Zes, October 21, 2003
Be careful to guard your heart, and to keep it stayed on Christ, for He will make you strong to do your duty. And to exemplify Biblical womanhood you have train your mind, and this is something that I am continually having to do: is rid out all the influence of the world, and train your mind to think in terms of Biblical womanhood. Read More

Sisters, This is Our Callby Kelly J. Brown, April 10, 2003
Sisters, we are called to be a part of helping our brothers. The calling of a man is a great one. It is a calling of responsibility and leadership; but at the same time, it is a calling of humility and servanthood. It is not an easy calling, but it is a wonderful one. A young boy’s childhood is not to be wasted. It should be full of preparation and learning. With all the hard work set before our brothers, being molded into someone God can use, they’re going to need some help and encouragement. Read More
Excerpts from the Foreword to ‘Be Fruitful and Multiply’by Douglas W. Phillips, Esq., January 27, 2003
There is no escaping the fact that the Bible is dogmatically pro-child. Scripture declares unapologetically that the birth of many children is a source of blessing, that a key reason for marriage is to bring forth many children for the glory of God, and that parents should actively seek such blessings. Read More

Bad Logic on Birth Controlby Douglas W. Phillips, Esq., January 27, 2003
Recently, I learned of a very misguided cleric, determined to caricaturize home educators and biblical principles of patriarchy, argue that if the Bible does not expressly forbid something, it is therefore allowed. He was trying to make the case for birth control. He was also implying that those Christians who oppose birth control are legalists. In my view, this sort of reasoning is specious and deeply flawed. Read More
“You Don’t Know Feminism”by Mrs. M.L. Chancey, January 23, 2003
This view of the woman at home as some poor slave “reduced to servitude” and “a mere instrument for the production of children” is echoed over and over again in the writings of feminists who are now enshrined as patron saints of the women’s movement. Let’s allow them to speak for themselves. Read More