The 20th century has seen urbanization, multiculturalism, multimedia, mobility and globalization. Most families have fewer children, both parents are employed, and the extended family is not nearby. Many families have only one parent, and frequently these families are under the poverty level. Many births are from unmarried single women, often teenagers. Abortion is a national controversy.
Marriage is often across cultural and religious differences.
Church attendance has declined. The family faces enormous challenges. However, the Bible speaks directly to many of the issues of contemporary family life. Life in a family requires a foundational singleness, a commitment of faith, and enduring character. The heart of a family is not first of all its blood relationship, but its covenantal basis.