Introduction
Human life is characterized by the existence of certain values that guide their daily practices. Religious values occur as one of the most pertinent values held closely by various human populations. A reflection on the world depicts the existence of various religions including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and others. Nonetheless, it is of the essence to realize Christianity remains the most worshiped religion across various contexts all around the globe.
Roles and Responsibilities of Christian Families and Christian Parents
Various religions have certain colossal values that are clearly espoused by their believers. Family occurs as one of the most fundamental dynamics that are highly valued by Christians. Christianity is not the only religion that values a family unit; other religions also espouse the establishment of family units amongst their believers. However, Christian families differ from families of other religions in that they are established by biblical principles. Because Christian families are founded on biblical principles, each of the family members has a God-given role, which they should fulfill. In a nutshell, Christians have an innate belief that God created the family and designed specific roles for each family member. One of the most pertinent roles of a Christian family is to love and embrace each other. Christian marriages and families purpose to offer love for its members (Bourg 168). As a way of fulfilling love as one of the responsibilities of Christian families, family members focus on companionship, emotional intimacy, and affirmation. Conclusively, love is the founding purpose of families, and this is the primary reason as to why marriages are aligned with the need to find a spouse who is a soul mate.
Certainly, a Christian family is composed of family members mainly comprising of children and parents. Therefore, roles are divided amongst the family members. With regards to Christian parents, roles are divided between a father and a mother. The roles of a father including providing necessities for the family members. As a way of providing spiritual training, fathers are required to train by way of example, whereby the father should be an active Christian believer. On the other hand, the Christian mother has roles, which include managing their households. While it is true that the roles of Christian fathers and mothers may differ, there are certain roles that they share. More importantly, Christian parents (mother and father) are required to provide spiritual training for the other family members. Speaking of spiritual training, this entails the need to coach the family members to grow into staunch believers in values espoused by Christianity. Another role shared by both Christian parents include disciplining the other family members in a loving way. On another note, both parents have a role to play, which aligns with the need for them to show procreative love for each other. As an example, Christian husbands are obliged to learn and respond adequately to their spouse’s erotic rhythms (Traina 273). The responsibility of Christian children align with the need to obey, honor, and support their parents.
Who are Christian Families Called to be and what they are called to be internally and in the Society
Internally, Christian families are called to comprehend and accommodate the varying opinions exhibited by all the family members. Precisely, Christian families are called to have mutually indisputable goals in all life dimensions. As previously connoted herein, Christian families of spouses should practice procreative love. For this reason, Christian families should exhibit mutuality and equality with regards to their goals in the sexuality realm (Traina 272). In a nutshell, sexual affection is an inner calling for Christian spouses, which acts as a reassurance for the mutual love between the spouses. In the society, Christian families are called to exhibit compassionate love for strangers in dire need of their help. Christians are regarded a true family of Christ; hence, the need for Christian believers to treat each other as a brethren. Conclusively, Christians are called to be helpers in the society, whereby they should cater for the basic needs of those suffering from various concerns including travails and sickness (Cahill 239).
Christian Families and Other Families
A reflection on Christian families and other families exhibit the existence of certain differences and similarities. One of the most apparent similarity is the fact that parents from both Christian and other families are tasked with the role of supporting and disciplining other family members, especially the children. Another similarity between Christian and other families aligns with the fact the both are of difference sizes. The pertinent difference is that other families are not established by procreative love. In fact, family units in other contexts are not necessarily based on love but are often based on lineage relationships.
What Makes a Family Christian?
A family is considered Christian based on its establishment on the biblical principles. Christianity is based on the premise that marriage is created by God; hence, marriage as a source of the family should be aimed at fulfilling the role of God. For this purpose, Christian families are characterized by the long-term commitment of its members to full filing God’s role, which is procreation (Traina 273). While it is true that Family is created by God, man is accorded stewardship over the family. Therefore, a Christian family is headed by a man, and the spouse and children are required to submit to the man as the head of the family.
Work Cited
Bourg, Florence. “The Family as Domestic Church and the Romantic Model of Love.” The Family as Domestic Church, pg. 157-177. Print.
Cahill, Lisa. “A Christian Family Vision.” Marriage: Readings in Moral Theology No. 15, Eds. Charles E. Curran and Julie Hanlon Rubio. New York: Paulist Press, 2009. Print.
Traina, Christina. “Papal Ideals, Marital Realities: One View from the Ground.” Sexual Diversity and Catholicism, eds. Patricia Beattie Jung and Joseph Andrew Coray. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2001. Print.
