“The family is God’s smallest unit in the battle for the soul of any nation. He designed the family as the birthplace and residence of Christianity. It is the place where the knowledge, fear, and love of the Lord are taught by parents and learned by children… If the soul of America is to be restored, it will be done one home, one family at a time, and in the church, we assist that by proclaiming God’s truth for the family. We need a ‘family reformation.’ Just as the Protestant Reformation restored vibrant faith to the soul, so a family reformation can restore spiritual vitality in our homes, communities, and nation…”

--Building Strong Families. Dennis Rainey, Crossway Books, 2002, p16-17

 

I was convinced that he was right and that the reformation must start with pastors and with fathers. Since God has made elders spiritual heads of churches and fathers the spiritual heads of households, without a radical reformation in their practices there will be no reformation.

 

Further, unless fathers rise up to play their biblical roles, there will never be sustainable reformation of any kind. When fathers do not adequately teach their children, reforms only last one generation and then everyone goes back to doing what is right in their own eyes. This is a systemic problem with many reformations in the church. When Deuteronomy 11:9 is not heeded and the children of the reformers are not taught, reformation dies with the leaders. (See also: Judges 8:32-35)