The Kingdom-Driven Family

Today I received a complimentary copy of a parenting magazine in the mail. I don’t know why it was sent, as I definitely do not fit their marketing demographic —  working moms who need help in “doing it all.” There are some articles for stay-at-home moms, but they are few in number.

This “back-to-school” issue had many facets, but an underlying theme in many articles was that the U.S. lags behind when it comes to support for working moms. Whatever helpful advice could be garnered from the articles dealing with healthy lunches, dropping off your child at school without tears, or battling with homework, was overshadowed by the appeal to statist solutions.

There was no mention at all of living life according to the standards of the Bible, and I couldn’t find one piece that even mentioned Christianity. In fact, laced throughout the various sections were ads for methods of “birth control” that showed contented women with just two children. What was being advertised as safe and effective is actually abortifacient in nature; these devices do not prevent pregnancy, rather, they hinder fetal implantation. Yet, the happy women portrayed looked like caring moms, seemingly unconcerned over the ethical and moral use of such devices.

One page featured a popular singer/celebrity with a caption that stated that 81% of her fans were likely to be readers of this particular magazine. In other words, they are likely to share her worldview. She is quoted as saying:

About her child:

“I’m so proud of myself that I made him in my belly…I can’t wait to know who his best friends are going to be, who is girlfriend or his boyfriend is going to be… Whatever my kid wants to do or be I will always support him no matter what.”

From her perspective, her child’s obedience to the Word of God is of no importance. She is the determiner of right and wrong and eventually her child will determine what he thinks is right and wrong. This is the worldview this parenting magazine mirrors throughout its pages and uses it to influence its readers.

There appears to be a trend even in current movie and television offerings that portray Biblical motherhood as boring, stultifying, and obsolete, if mentioned at all. I had the distinct displeasure of being subjected to a trailer of one such example. This self-described “raunchy comedy” summarizes itself as follows:

When three overworked and under-appreciated moms are pushed beyond their limits, they ditch their conventional responsibilities for a jolt of long overdue freedom, fun, and comedic self-indulgence.

I must say that “raunchy” was a gross understatement. While it is true that mothers are often overworked and under-appreciated, the moms portrayed were utterly vulgar and profane. The remedies for the sometimes-thankless job of motherhood, included drunkenness, lesbianism, and lasciviousness!

So why am I highlighting these media examples? Because modern cultural media works overtime to undermine Biblical womanhood whenever possible. As more women begin to embrace their callings as genuine Proverbs 31 women, the enemies of the family launch counterattacks, attempting to denigrate the important Kingdom work godly women do. Enticing wives and moms into “harmless” indulgences and calling them good, is one way to accomplish this. It is also a way to distract people from the abject failure of humanism.

Kingdom-driven families continue to have a positive effect in our spheres of influence — something our opponents do not relish. When unthreatened, they pretty much act as though a dedicated wife and mother whose top priority is her family doesn’t even exist. When their worldview is being successfully challenged (and I submit that it is), they begin to feel the heat. Their solution is to call evil good, and present degraded women as positive role models.

As the expression goes: Nobody kicks a dead dog. We are making headway and they know it. The gates of hell will not prevail against the faithful saints of God!