New Hampshire Family Values articles

It’s All about the Family

By R. Larry Scott
April 25, 2008

Kevin Kelly, reflecting on the influence of today’s culture on the Christian society of tomorrow, writes, "In thirty years the Christian "brand will be shaped primarily by today’s infants as they grow in the church, and secondarily by the ripples of influence launched by this current generation of youth as they dwell in middle age. The openness, actions, and influences of today’s parents will vanish quickly and survive only indirectly via the legacy of their child rearing (UnChristian, p. 239).

There is, it seems to many of us, a common denominator to the great social conflicts of our time abortion, homosexual marriage, divorce, sexual abuse, etc. the family is under attack. From the moment of conception, when the child’s very life is threatened, through to the molding within the family of attitudes, concepts of right and wrong, moral convictions and world view, it seems that our children are facing unprecedented challenges never before encountered by the next generation.

It is an accepted truism that today’s children are going to be the leaders of tomorrow. In finance, in business, in politics, in commerce, in the church and in the home, today’s infants will tomorrow determine what will happen to the legacy we have given them. Each generation must inevitably discover its own sense of direction and determine its own world view. While I am the one responsible to reach my generation with principles of truth and reality that will eventuate in a life that is both satisfying and fulfilling, my effectiveness in doing so will be determined to a significant extent not only by the legacy I leave to but also by the influence I have on the generation to come. I cannot and I must not abrogate my responsibility to the world of tomorrow to do everything I can to help the next generation develop those strengths of character and determine those standards of morality whereby they too shall be able to effectively convey truth to their peers.

To maintain that the family is under attack is in no way over-dramatizing the crisis we face. The overtones are so monumental that many of us are convinced that what we have here is, in fact, not a social but a spiritual conflict. Jesus said, "Permit the little children … to come to me, and don’t prevent them to do so, for of such is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:14). Our concern is legitimate. When our children are no longer able to pray in school, when the Bible can no longer be displayed in public, when God is no longer acknowledged as our creator, when our children are being openly taught the family need not consist of both a mother and a father, when contraceptives and abortion are available to our children from the onset of puberty… it is no wonder that we are concerned. This is not an over-reaction; this is, beyond doubt, a spiritual battle, and the family is the target.

There is, indeed, a force of evil that is seeking to take a hold in our country. Those who do not share my Christian convictions may disagree with me as to its source, but I would think that many would agree there is a powerful force of evil that is influencing, and many of us believe, destroying the fabric of our society.

So, now what? May I suggest, however briefly, three things.

First of all, we must give our children the advantage of a stable home life. It is within the home that our children learn self-discipline, the meaning of love, the ability to forgive, the practice of patience, Biblical principles of marriage, and healthy standards of right and wrong. These things are not taught so much as they are caught, and that from parents who have matured to such an extent that the family can legitimately follow in their footsteps. Children will most generally emulate the principles lived by parents who have conducted themselves in such a way as to deserve their respect.

Secondly, we must monitor those influences to which our children are being subjected. Powerful forces are at work. From their peers, from the classroom, from television, and now, from the options available through the internet, we simply must stay on top of what our children are being told is true and real.

And, finally, we must stand and be counted with every opportunity we are given. In business, in politics, in ministry, whether in casual conversation or in formal conferences, in short, in every facet of our lives, we must let the world, and our family, know that we march to the beat of a different drummer. We do, indeed, live by a different set of standards than the societal norm and must exemplify our Christian convictions even in the mundane routine of our lives.

What we have here is not just a difference of opinion, a modern point of view; what we have here is in a very real way, a war of words, of principles and of attitudes and the next generation, the world of tomorrow in the lives of our children, hang in the balance. May God help us to take our responsibility seriously. The next generation deserves our very best.

When the State is Out of Order!

By Larry Scott
May 25, 2008

The actions by the State of Texas just a month ago to intervene in the affairs of a Mormon polygamist ranch, the Yearning for Zion Ranch near Eldorado Texas, has left many of us troubled and wondering … how long until something like this happens to us!

I have no sympathy for polygamist theology. The Bible is quite clear that the life-style is sin in its most blatant form. The close relationship God intended for a man to have with his one wife, and the model of godliness and personal attention the two of them were meant to give to their children, has been destroyed with the advent of these large families with multiple wives and many competing siblings. The polygamists are simply wrong.

Be that as it may, however, and granting that a number of under-age girls may well have been forced into a marriage they neither desired nor for which they were adequately prepared, taking young children away from their mothers and placing them in foster homes is unconscionable! I have no problem calling the men to task … but intruding on the relationship between these women and their precious children … that is simply beyond belief! Ironically, the Third Court of Appeals in Austin, Texas ruled May 22 that, indeed, the state offered "legally and factually insufficient" grounds for the "extreme" measure of removing all children from the ranch, from babies to teenagers. It is hoped that the children will soon be again reunited with their families.

Although corrective measures are being taken to redress the wrong that has been done, the issue here that is of greatest concern is the ease with which the State has been able to intrude into the affairs of the home. Home school mothers required to secure a teaching certificate - even now in motion in California - or lose the privilege of teaching their own children and forced to surrender them to the State … don’t think for a moment this couldn’t happen to us too! Churches required to give "equal time to the opposition when addressing sensitive political or social issues … Christian organizations required to put homosexuals on staff to insure equal opportunity … girls clubs required to hire lesbian leaders in the interest of cultural diversity … the threat is very real and we have reason to fear. The encroachment of the State on our personal liberty is a trend we must resist with every ounce of strength we have and with every opportunity at our disposal.

Two immediate responses come to mind.

First of all, God’s men and women must run for office at every level - local as well as State - and we must put them into office to be our voices for change and in defense of freedom. It is time, indeed, for bold, unapologetic, forceful opposition to what is happening all across this great nation of ours. One of these days, perhaps very soon, God is going to call home those of us who claim Him as Lord and Master, and then "they can do as they please. Until then, however, the political and social forces initiating changes we find unacceptable have a direct impact on each one of us. Our society needs to know that we, too, are American citizens, and that we, too, have every right to be a part of the discussion. I make no apologies for letting the forces which surround us know that we oppose their efforts and we won’t take it without expressing our vehement opposition and resisting their actions with every tool and opportunity at our disposal.

Secondly, and perhaps even more important to our survival, our primary thrust must be within the family. May God help us to give to our spouse and children the advantage of a godly example of righteous, self-disciplined, intelligent, and tender care. We must demonstrate in our own homes those principles by which we live. If we are to demand from society respect and the freedom to live by our Christina principles, then we surely must grant the same to our family. Again, as I have stated before, it is within the home that life’s most basic qualities of character - self-discipline, patience, sensitivity, forgiveness, humility, responsibility, and the meaning of love - are learned and lived within the crucible of daily life.

We live at a time of great progress, great stress, and great opportunity in America. Political, social and spiritual forces, however, are at work that demand that we give to our society our very best. We may not be wanted, we may not be heeded, we may not be appreciated, but we are needed. May God help us to make this our finest hour!

The Evolution of American Values

By R. Larry Scott
June 25, 2008

Joe Klein, writing on "The Secret’s of Reagan’s Success in the June 14, 2004 issue of Time magazine, made this significant observation: Reagan will mostly be remembered for his unyielding opposition to the Soviet Union, for his willingness to call a regime that murdered at least 40 million of its citizens "evil." Commenting on this article in her book, The Criminalization of Christianity (page 183), Janet Folger writes: "Really? ‘Murdering at least forty million of its citizens is ‘evil? Let’s think about that for a minute. Forty million, forty-five million…what other country has killed that many of its own citizens? Oh yea, we did. Since Roe v Wade became law in 1973, the National Right to Life estimates that, through 2004, 48,589,993 babies have had their lives terminated through abortion in the United States.

How did we get to where we are as a nation of generally respectable, intelligent people? What has happened to a society of basically good and honorable men and women whereby things have degenerated to a point that many of us find beyond belief. There are, I think, three emerging trends that have had a profound influence on our actions and attitudes.

From the social revolution of the ‘60’s there emerged a drive on the part of many to be free of all restraint, to be free to develop one’s own potential (so long as "no one else is hurt"), to "dare to be me! The fact that such ultimate freedom as envisioned was never possible without dispensing with an objective standard of morality was a given. The standard clearly set forth in God’s Word, the influence of the Church, and parental guidance all took a back seat to the desire to be "free to be me. The results are tragically obvious.

With this we saw the rise of the civil rights and women’s liberation movements and the emergence of a second trend often characterized as the "victim mentality. Cruel parents, an abusive spouse, an uncaring Church, brutal police, the "rich became the "evil forces charged with culpability. "The devil made me do it indeed! "Victims were soon demanding their "rights and, as a result, individual rights became the impetus behind an enormous amount of new legislation. Legitimate needs were addressed and we can only laud the effort to help those who deserve the protection and help provided by an affluent society. Once, however, the ball was set to rolling there was no stopping the momentum. In due time individual rights gave way to the "right to choose, and pushed to its extreme, this in turn ultimately led to what was termed "partial birth abortion. Babies, viable and living, were murdered during the birth process as they emerged from the womb. Unbelievable.

Concurrent with these trends came a third, the emergence of the Great Society. A social "safety net, desperately needed by the weak and the indigent, was provided. Again, we have no problem with that. Others less deserving, however, taking advantage of America’s largesse, looked to society to shield them from the consequences of their actions. The trend, carried through to its extreme, has now influenced almost every facet of our lives. Troubled families have been dissolved through divorce; inconvenient pregnancies have been terminated through abortion; aberrant sexual drives have been sanctioned with the legislation approving social unions, and in ever more States, homosexual marriage.

To compound the issue we saw the rise of post-modernism - where truth is relative and no one is wrong - which has shelved objective standards of morality and given philosophical and, unfortunately, all too often, church sanction to personal freedom and the right to chose. "I’m Ok … you’re Ok they tell us. No one is wrong; everyone is right. Truth is subjective, objective standards of morality are no longer valid, God is what you make of him, the Bible is just another religious text … and the results of such a personal standard of right and wrong are self-evident. The awesome impact of this development within philosophy and, tragically, within the Church demands comment I will reserve until a future time.

Indeed as the Apostle Peter predicted (in II Peter 3:3), many of us are convinced we are "in the last days when "scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. He furthermore predicted that the "day of the Lord would come when "the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare (II Peter 3:10). To say that we are already "feeling the heat is to put it mildly. The assault on the family and the wanton destruction of the unborn are only two symptoms of where we are as a nation.

It is, indeed, high time for the Church of the Living God to stand and be counted! Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (Matt. 19:14). The survival of the next generation, from conception through to a healthy home environment with a mother and father to guide and exemplify truth and morality, demands our finest efforts. No longer can we ethically sit back and criticize those who are impacting America with their ungodly philosophy while we sit back and do nothing! If we are, indeed, His ambassadors, His representatives on earth, it is imperative that our response to this American crisis reflect Him in both our attitudes and our actions. With respectful but unwavering opposition to current social trends, we make no apology for saying that it is imperative that America finds its way back to God and to the objective standards of morality clearly outlined in His Word.

In short, if we are going to survive as a nation, God’s truth MUST prevail!