Family

Ask your question at the Bottom of the Page.

Q. Is it good for a woman to have her tubes tied??

A. I'd like to congratulate you. This question caught me completely off gaurd.

The answer is yes, if it is to guard her health and the same could be said of the man having a vascetomy to guard her health. Some would say that no we shouldn't mess with the reproductive system because it is the instrument of new birth and new souls. If that were so then maybe we better quit giving blood transfusions or better yet quit doing operations on folks to make them well. That knowledge to do these things comes form God.

Q. What do you believe is God's stance on artificial insemination? In case you aren't familiar with this process, it's when sperm is purchased from a bank and introduced into a woman to get her pregnant.

A. For the Christian man and wife? No... Not trying to leagalistic but plain spoken. When a man and wife join together to be one flesh, then the blessings of that marriage (children) are to be the result of the union of that one flesh. Matthew 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. and then: 1st Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. Plainly put, the wife, accepting the seed of a strange man is in fact in the act of adultery and the husband allowing it is just as guilty.

If God has joined a couple together and that man, for whatever reason, is unable to cause conception then it is Gods will that this be. So what does a Christian couple do? James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Adopt a child or two or three!!!

Your servant in Christ Jesus,

[Timothy]

Q. I need to teach about family life in a culture which teaches that having many children is a sign of God's blessing. They refer to such passages as Ps. 127. With this approach the family's financial resources and wife's strength are often taxed beyond reason. In addition only men with many children are recognized as spiritually mature and worthy leaders. I don't agree with this view, but have not found biblical arguments on which to base my teaching. Can you give some advice? [Viktor Steiner] vik.steiner@mails.ch

A. You are looking for something that isn't there Viktor! We are still living with the results of the curse but where God giving us children is a blessing. Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. and then Psalms 113:9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.

[Timothy]

Q. I was raised in an independent Baptist church & attended Christian schools from 4th grade through college. While in Bible college, we had some family problems that tore my family apart. My sisters blamed God / church. My folks (dad was deacon-trustee & mom a S.S. teacher) and sisters quit church. At the time, I felt like God wasn't there / wasn't hearing my prayers. I spent the next several years in and out of church. I have recently re-committed my life to the Lord and am getting back in church. However, my 9 year old son has developed an attitude towards church---doesn't want anything to do with it. We visited a non-denominational church / he seemed to like it better. However, I'm not sure about the doctrinal differences. I don't want to turn my son off to church by forcing him to attend a church he dislikes (Baptist). On the other hand, I'm not sure how I feel about attending a church that practises laying on hands, or praying for healing. Any advice? [Anon]

A. Brother, if you spent your life in church then you know that's where your supposed to be: Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

As for your 9 years old, is he old enough to know where sound doctrine is to be found? Or are you, as his dad, responsible for making sure that he is in the right place to grow up in the admonition of the Lord? Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. and also Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. You choose in the Spirit where your family should worship.

Baptists today aren't for the most part as Baptists were in former days. Save a few. They have become more and more like the protestants by letting formalism and ceremony to creep in. That's a pity! What's also a pity is they have forgotten that we are told to pray for one anothers ailments and when asked to, to lay on hands but I don't believe that's what your talking about. You are most likely speaking of those who are "Faith Healers" so to speak that lay their hands on you even without your request. We know that many will believe all sorts of false doctrines in the last days. 2nd Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. That my friend is exactly what you should keep your family away from.

[Timothy]

Q. My 12 year old son (almost 13) has a problem with stealing. We've done everything we can think of...grounding, spanking...ect...Any idea's on something we can do? [Anon]

A. Yes, I know what can be done! From personal experience and learning too late myself what could be done. Let me share it with you.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. This is a passage that has put me under conviction many times. In order to train a child, first you must spend time with that child. Nine times out of ten this kid is looking for attention. He's getting it, although its negative attention, he's none the less receiving it. One of my children craved attention and bad behavior was the way he got what he wanted! I spent my time spanking him and grounding him but because I had my priorities on working and my business, that was the only attention I gave him. When I sold out to the Lord 100% and started trying to spend time with my children as I should, it was too late for this one because he had grown into manhood. Not that he's a bad kid, it's that my relationship with him is rocky because all he really received from me as a teenager was discipline.

Also, during this time, I wasn't faithful to Gods house, Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. This is a very important matter! Being at the church house (((((WITH))))) your family is the greatest gift you can give to your kids.

1. They are with the brethern who are (((((TRYING))))) to live for the Lord. James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. & James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
2. They are under the teaching of the Scriptures through the Holy Spirit! 2nd Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
3. This is the best way of keeping them out of the "wrong crowd" and if some of the "wrong crowd" are there in church, the Holy Spirit will teach them too or put them under such conviction they will leave! 1st Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 5:22: Abstain from all appearance of evil. 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, as for what you have been forced to do in punishing your son, continue this very action in Love. Sometimes spanking and grounding are needful because you love him. Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. DO NOT EVER DO THIS OUT OF ANGER!!!!!!!! Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

It starts with you!

• Are you spending the time necessary to be with your son? Is your spouse? If something is filling that time that should be spent with your son, get rid of it and ask God to give you what you need in faith! What's more important, your son or your job?
• Are you keeping your son in church? Not just any church but a Bible Believing, Spirit filled Church! Not just on Sunday morning but every time the door opens for the assembly of the saints! Not only your son but your whole family!
• Are you praying for your son as you should? God the Father wants to hear your prayers and Jesus Christ died for us so that we can go directly to the Father with our petitions!
• Do you know what they are teaching your son in school? If it's bad, put a stop to it! Look for HUMANISM, LIBERALISM, SAFE SEX, Pushing HOMOSEXUALITY as a lifestyle, and the list goes on & on! If you can't stop it then Homeschool! It's your right as a parent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Are you keeping your child away from the wrong crowd?  Pray for that crowd but keep your son away from them! Get to know his friends! That may sound bias but it makes sense! This is where you may even have to worry about drugs and booze!
• Are you careful of what your child is watching on TV or listening to on the radio & media? Major problem there if you're not! Listen to some of the garbage theses kids are subjecting themselves to. Rap & Hard Rock music are number one on my hit list here at home! Just listen to the words and the attitude this type of noise projects! Most other secular music isn't much better though!
• ARE YOU SETTING THE PROPER EXAMPLE? Do you show the values that you're wanting your son to exhibit? 1st Thessalonians 5:22: Abstain from all appearance of evil.
• Get your priorities straight!
  1. God = Trust in no other to set things right! Trust ONLY HIS WORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  2. Spouse = Cling to no other and lean on each other! Show no division between you two, especially in front of your children!
  3. Children = Trust no one else to train them! Have faith that if you do right, right will be done!
  4. Outward Family = Honor your own Father & Mother as an example to your children!

Ponder these questions and get back with me, will ya?

[Timothy]