It is popular in today’s culture to refer to the church as “the house.” Keep in mind that although it is the house of the Lord, the church is not your
house! Often, the lifestyles of pastors’ families have compromised the value of the home which is the place where the human heart is formed.
Time spent at home is subtly replaced with church programs and other busy activities. Family members easily disconnect when they spend less time together at home. In order to stabilize our families, the dignity and sanctity of the home must be restored. Let’s explore together what is meant by The Dignity and Sanctity of the Home.
Dignity
The dignity of the home is seeing and experiencing its worth by those who are touched by it. Combining worth with character and appearance defines dignity. Webster says dignity means “worthy of recognition due to a change in character and appearance.” A home that has dignity sets standards of order and creativity with the godly characteristics of love, honesty, and loyalty.
Sanctity
The sanctity of the home is its purity in heart and purpose—its wholeness and holiness in tone and mood. Yes, home is a duet of devotion and worth--devotion to God while valuing one another. Home is the sanctuary for the human soul to be recharged, renewed, refreshed and restored.
Home should be our most treasured asset. However, more and more women are devoting much of their energy to pursuits outside of the home. Unfortunately, the ambitions such as: a higher education and pursuing a career have undermined home values, priorities, and interests. Professional achievements do not change the fact that God designates women as the primary influencers in the home.
Home is the Basis for Human Society
One of the most widely read books of all time is The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. In his book Edward Gibbon gives “Five Basic Reasons Why Great Civilizations Withered and Died”. These are clearly as true today as when Gibbon wrote them in 1788.
- The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis for human society. [Italics added for emphasis.]
- Higher and higher taxes; the spending of public money for free bread.
- The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more brutal, more immoral.
- The building of great armaments when the real enemy was within—the decay of individual responsibility.
- The decay of religion; faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life, losing power to guide the people.
Two Essential Human Needs—Love and Peace
Every human soul cries out for its essential needs, which are love and peace. When these two vital elements are not provided in the home, the result can be disastrous. A life-long search begins which can take people into some very dark places. Because home is the central system in which human development occurs, the function of the home should be carefully designed. As families execute their plan to provide the essential positive growth needed by each person living in that home, the result can be glorious.
Establishment of Family Values
Home has ceased to be the center of family activity. Day-care centers, baseball diamonds, football fields, basketball courts, and fast food restaurants have replaced it. Even excessive church activities can usurp the time that a family needs at home. Who one becomes is a direct reflection of where one spends most of his time.
You may say, “family is important”, because you already know that family values bring health to a family. However, it is not enough to just say it. You must also create family time on your calendar and be willing to spend money on family activities.
Married or Single –Pastor’s wife or Parishioner—You are the “Keeper”
Titus 2:3-5 clearly defines the responsibility that women have to relationally preserve feminine responsibilities and values. Each generation is to pass these teachings to the younger women. We are to teach them to love their husbands and to love their children, to be sensible, pure (in motive), keepers of the home, kind, and to be submitted to their husbands so the Word of God will not be dishonored.
I especially want you to notice the words keepers at home (King James version). What does this phrase mean? Some translations are limited to the idea of working at home. The Greek word is “oikouros”. This word comes from two words: oikos which means “a dwelling”; and ouros meaning “to guard”. So the woman is to guard her dwelling.
In practical terms it means that women are to be fully aware of all the activities that go on in her home. She is to guard the atmosphere that nothing will cause her to lose peace and love from the environment that she creates. Whether married or single, you have dominion over your environment. Keep peace with soft, gentle tones and keep love by always controlling your responses to consider others more important than yourself.
Refocus on Rebuilding
Society’s popular trends should never dictate what you do or don’t do in your home. Within the law of the land and under God’s Law, we have a higher mandate. The reason our lives have become so confused and anxiety-filled is that we have lost our focus on the worth and value God places on the home.
When women’s hearts return to the home, society will improve. Families will be strengthened and neighborhoods will come to life. Porches will be swept and wreaths hung on doors. Perhaps, once again, children will play together in the yard and neighbors will know one another by name.
What will it take for your home to become a haven of peace and a sanctuary of love? What are you willing to do to restore the dignity and sanctity of your home so that the love of God and the peace of the Lord dwell in your home?
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Excerpts from Chapter 1 of Devi’s latest book entitled The HOME EXPERIENCE—In your home Experience Peace, Experience Love
With permission to reprint this for The Global Pastors’ Wives Network, Free to Soar Conference Magazine 2007.
