The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-12-22

Z. nj FAMILY in a
CHRISTIAN HOME
(Ephesians 6: PA
Build the Home for the Chris
tian Child. The mutual duties of
parents and children are enjoined
upon the family in the Christian
home.
o. There are two duties which
children owe their parents. The
first is obedience. It is an Obedi-
ence of heart as well as of hand.
IL involves the obedient spirit as
much as ,obadient service. But it
is prompt and willing. 1t racog-
nizes parental authority. 1t COM
plies with that authority even
when the reason for a command
is not apparent. Indeed, it may
carry out a parental wish which
is even unreasonable though not
wrong in itself. AS a matter of
fact, there is limitation set
about obedience to parents. When
the parental word is contrary to
the Word of God, the Christian
child is bound to obey God rather
than an ungodly parent. But the
Christian home will make it easy
for children to be obedient 'in
the Lord" which supplies the
proper element and motive for
obedience. Moreover, it is right for
children to obey their parents.
since this is taught first in natural
law and then also in the revealed
law of God. The second duty of
children to parents is given in the
fifth commandment. Every child
ought to honor his father and mo-
ther by obeying their commands,
by the word of love, by adding to
the usual tasks the extras of kind
ness and thoughtfulness toward,
them, by seeking their counsel
and initiating them, and best of
all. by bringing their lives, if they
can, up to the standard of par
entail ideals and hopes for them.
There is great reward in such a
course of conduct-many days
and much happiness in the land
which is given by the Lord.
(2) There are some definite
duties which parents owe to their
children. Observe that Paul fixes
a good deal of responsibility di-
rectly upon fathers, probably for
the reason that they are vested
with domestic authority and no
doubt also because the masculine
element is quite as. essential as
the maternal element in the train
ing of children. The father; there
fore, who evadeS his parentakduty
by no means escapes his uobliga-
ton. There is a Negative duty,
which lies Immediately before him.
He must not provoke and discour-
age his children by an overbear-
ING attitude, by a tyrannical spir-
1t, by a condescending air, or. by
any veXing repression OF undue
handicap whatever. On the con-
trary, he ought to help, encour-
age, stimulate, guide, inspire. Ii
he expects obedience he must de-
serve it. So, finally, he has the
positive duty of nurturing his
children in two directions: One
by such discipline as may be in
volved in their Christening which
may require an act; the other is
involved in their admonition
which certainly requires many a
faithful word. Always the devout
parent will have the divine ideal
before him and seek to have the
divine spirit within him. =
ENTHRONE CHRIST -,
IN THE HOME
Cd Expectation of Christ in
the Home. 'There were shep-
herds" Evidently they were de
yout. Certainly they were looking
for the Messiah. Perhaps they
were actually talking about him,
when the angel appeared. The
good news is good only to those
who appreciate it. =" The Saviour
comes only to those who come to
him.
(2) Glory of Christ in the
Home. "Shone round about them"
Was the Babe of Bethlehem born
humbly in cherries stall? Even
so; but the very heavens blazed
with his glory and the angels
found earth more attractive that
night than heaven itself. There
is more than halo about his
head. He is the Sun of Righteous
ness. He is the Light of the world.
. 49, Sovereignty of Christ in
the Home. "Christ the Lord" He
came to seek and to save that
which was lost. But he is. Lord as
well as Saviour. He not only
snatches men as brands out of the
burning but h esways his scepter
over their lives. We ale saved to !
serve Sc because he is, our savioqr7..
(4) Accessibilitytof Christ IN
the Home. ,s'Ye shall. find" FIX
plicit directions were given the,
shepherds They had mo trouble
going directly to the Babe in
Bethlehem. And he is equally ac-
cessible to all who want to reach
him. "Seek and We shall find"
"Him that cometh to me, l will
in no wise cast out"
60 knowledge. of Christ in the
Home. "The Lord hath made
KNOWN" The knowledge of Christ
is the highest knowledge of the
entire universe. Indeed it is the.
substance of divine revelation.
That is, the infinite and omnis-
cient God had nothing better to
communicate to men. There is no.
higher aspiration in any heart
than that expressed by Paul when