Just as we see in the tale of “The Three Little Pigs,” there is a big, bad wolf at loose in our culture today, and his name is Satan. He doesn’t merely seek to blow down our physical houses but to wreak havoc on what’s inside our homes – our families. The family is under relentless attack from every imaginable angle, and at the heart of this attack is a sinister strategy to redefine the family.
A Fundamental Question: Who Owns the Family?
At Dream City Church we know that whoever owns the family controls the future of our nation. The tale of a nation is indeed the tale of its families. Chaos ensues when the wolf is allowed to deconstruct the meaning of family. We see this chaos manifesting in various spheres of our society.
In the Bible, the family was under attack numerous times. Weaknesses in families were evident when roles became inverted and children ruled over parents. This disorder weakened the very fabric of homes, leading to societal decline. Today, we witness similar attacks through various systems:
- Education: Our education system increasingly pushes an agenda on our children, often under the guise of enlightenment. In fact, it is the dissemination of ideologies that stray far from God’s truth and God’s definition of family.
- Social Media: Platforms like TikTok and Instagram bombard our youth with a myriad of philosophies. Disagreement with these narratives brands one as a hater, while the true essence of family values is eroded.
- Government: We have structures that incentivize brokenness, paying people to stay at home, fostering dependence, and dismantling the work ethic and unity that strong families are built upon.
These influences lead to severe social and economic consequences: increased poverty, crime, homelessness, and heightened political and racial tensions. At the root of all these issues is the breakdown of the family. When the family disintegrates, chaos follows.
Joshua stood before the people of God and issued a powerful challenge: “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15, ESV)
For our families to thrive, we must rid ourselves of modern idols. Today’s idols may not look like those of ancient times, but they demand our allegiance just the same. These idols—whether they be the approval of society, the pressures of success, or the allure of comfort—call us to conform even when it means defying God’s commands.
We must care deeply about our culture, but we cannot compromise our faith. Our stance must be clear: we stand for the Word of God. The culture seeks to redefine the family to control it. Yet, we proclaim: Not in my house: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
God established the family not as a social construct but as a divine institution. In Genesis 1:26-28, God says, “Let us make mankind in our image.” He created the family for three reasons:
- Reflection: Families are meant to reflect God’s image. A reflection is a mirror. Today, many families lack this divine image, looking instead into a distorted mirror, creating a counterfeit family structure. This series is an opportunity to align our families with the true reflection of God.
- Replication: God blessed the family to be fruitful and increase in number, not just to multiply babies but to replicate His image across generations. Our children should not just aim for worldly success but should grow to embody God’s character.
- Rule: Families are to rule and subdue the Earth, harnessing Heaven’s power to govern effectively on Earth. A family that operates according to God’s design will thrive and rule in its spheres of influence.
To rebuild our families and even our nation, we must return to God’s blueprint. Until we operate according to His definitions, we will never experience true freedom or fulfillment in our family lives. As Christians, we must stand firm and say, “Not in my house.” We declare, like Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
We must fear the Lord, take God seriously, and serve Him with sincerity and truth. Ensure your children learn God’s truth so they don’t grow up accepting the world’s counterfeit family model. Stand firm, even in the face of criticism, and uphold God’s Word in every aspect of your home.
The wolf could not blow down the third pig’s house because it was built if something hard and solid. Likewise, if you build your house on the rock of God’s Word, not only will you survive, but you will thrive, rule, and be blessed.
The above is an abbreviated version of the message that Pastor Luke originally preached on May, 26th, 2024, at the Phoenix campus. We invite you to join us for Sunday Service at Dream City Church each week to hear Pastor Luke and other speakers in person. You can also stream our services online here. If you enjoyed this article, don’t forget to share it with someone who might need to hear this powerful message!
