Key Words: And houses full of all good things
Jonathan Edwards is known as one of the greatest theologians of American history. His voice played a significant role in America’s first Great Awakening. He is remembered for his powerful sermons and his seventy “Resolutions.” But one word from history that has long been neglected is his view of the home. He and his wife, the former Sarah Pierrepont, established something that is more noteworthy than the Northampton Church. Together, they formed a family. His value of this family, and all families, can be seen in a statement made during his “Farewell Sermon: ‘Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church, consecrated to Christ, and wholly influenced and governed by His rules.’ We have become very acquainted with the separation of church and state. Edwards went on to say, ‘May we never allow such a separation to take place between the church and the home.’” But I am afraid there is a great divide today between the two. Someone once said, “As goes the home, so goes the church.” If that is the case, our homes have become very weak spiritually. As a result, our churches are very weak as well.
I remember something I read some time back. “During World War II, housing was in short supply. A lady with good intentions expressed sympathy to a little girl whose family did not live in a house. She said, ‘It’s too bad your family doesn’t have a home.’ The five-year-old replied, ‘We have a home. We just don’t have a house to put it in.’” In World War II there was a housing shortage; today we have a home shortage.
✞ All of us have a house; but let’s all strive to have a home.
Are you Saved? | Get These Devotions By Email
