Both the home and the church are institutions that have been “created” and “ordained” by God. As one person put it, these two “...serve as the hub around which all of humanity is intended to revolve. Human existence and life on this planet ultimately make sense only in light of these two heavenly entities.”

 

Consider with me four things that the home and the church have in common:

 

They both have a head. “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church…” (Eph. 5:23). The wife should submit to her “head.” “Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Eph. 5:24).

 

They both have a father. God is often portrayed as “Father.” To those of us who are Christians, God is “our Father in heaven” (Matt. 6:9). Fathers are “indispensable to the home.” Fathers should be obeyed (Eph. 6:1), honored (Eph. 6:2) and they should train their children properly (Eph. 6:4).

 

They both have a purpose. That purpose is the same purpose - ”To get its member to heaven.” The families schedule must be arranged in such a way that the church and spiritual matters come first. “But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33).

 

They both require discipline. In the home, “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying” (Prov. 19:18). In the church, “Now I beseech you brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them” (Rom. 16:17).

 

These “God-ordained,” “God-created” institutions function together.