Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-12
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.
MAKING OUR HOMES
CHRISTIAN.
Ephesians. v.25-xi.4.
Golden Text-Let us love one
another: for love is of God
/ John, iv.7.


cording to some social cynics, through
the loss of the home life. Christianity
growing out of Judaism, has fostered
and developed the home. All the tenn
pies and Synagogues of Judaism and
all the churches Of Christendom had
their beginnings in the household
where religion was taught and lived
by tiod-tearing parents.
Making our homes Christian con
tains the one hope for the prevention
of the dangers that threaten modern
civilization. THE sanctity of the
home and the integrity of the family
are not idle phrases nor unimportant
issues. They are vital to human vel
fare" The social life of the world has
its beginnings in the home. The
worlds industry had it's start in the
family. Governments originated in
the home. Education commences in
the home, where the plastic life is
nodded by the teaching and practicing
of the precepts and principles Of re-
lision into strong personalities, or,
bent into a defective or dwarf charac-
ter. through the lack of proper re-
ligious instruction.
The family is a divine institution
that was ordained of God to perpetu-
ate the race and to hand down from
generation to generation His revela-
lions to men. In every Christian
marriage God is recognized as being
a party to every marriage, SO that it
ought not to be entered into without
due consideration and in accordance
with His will. The sacredness Of the
marriage VOW condemns its being en-
tered into for convenience. based upon
pleasure, comfort or as a means Of
social enjoyment The ideal and
Christian marriage demands the throb-
bling heart of true and abiding love for
the establishment of a home. While
true love may not always run smooth,
false love. or passing sentiment, Is
certain to bring about shipwreck.
When Jesus spoke to the woman at
the well of Samaria He did not con-
done her sin in breaking the seventh
commandment, for in His Sermon on
the Mount He taught that it was
broken in spirit by a mere look. He
saw that what she needed was more
spirituality. and He tried to give unto
her that life which is essential to the
making of Christian home.
Christian Parents.
There is only one motive for home
making, that has stood the acid test
of time, the onslaught of adversaries
and the subtle attack of destroying
forces. 1t is love. Christianity beau
titles everything it touches. Reaching
out into pagan lands and life, it
taught the Sanctity of marriage until
the Christian home was marked by
mutual love that was rooted and
grounded in Christ Jesus. purifying
the home life, elevating the position
of the wife until she became mans
equal. Without the spiritual tie of
love, it Is impossible to make an ideal
Christian home. Although a mar
riage may be arranged as was Isaac's,
or be one of convenience. as was
Ruth's. or be a love marriage, as was
Rachel's, the carrying out of the
obligations of matrimony requires a
mutual love such as Christ had for
the church,
When the motive power of the
husband and wife is Of love like
the Master possessed for His bride.
the spiritual church. their home life
will be purified by His presence and
their union permanent because their
love will be sell denying. sacrificial
and sharing their all with one
another. When such love exists. there
will be no hardness Of hearts," that
was the basis for a divorce according
to Moses. Jesus taught that Moses
was justified in granting a bill of
enforcement" in certain cases, where
hardness Of heart" existed. Where
ever the teachings of Christ have
gone there has been a great reduc-
ton in the number Of divorces, which
would be reduced considerably in this
land II professed Christians followed
the Scripture. which prohibits their
being unequally yoked together with
unbelievers.
Every family in heaven and on