The most difficult thing I have ever done in my life is
to be married and raise a family.
Starting from a working class background, I was a small unit commander
in the military, earned an advanced degree, directed county and state level
programs, managed retail stores, and helped my wife start and operate a
successful solely owned proprietorship.
So, I was not without challenges in life. I had to start over from scratch many times. Having a successful marriage and family has, however, eclipsed them all.
Don’t get me wrong, my wife and I love each
other, and we were blessed with good children who grew up to be useful and
productive people. Nevertheless, we made
a lot of mistakes. Fortunately, the Lord
caused all things to work out for the best. (Romans 8:28)
I believe that outside influences can be a source of
serious problems for marriages and families.
Drugs and alcohol, outside romantic attractions, overwork, continuing
education, friends who are critical of a spouse or children, in-laws, and
ex-spouses are a few of many things that can be sources of disruption. Therefore, we must consider carefully whether
the actions of government are a help or a hinderance to the marriages and families of our
citizens.
Whether we support the traditional marriage and family,
or we want them to be altered to reflect recent social changes, people look to
government to back their point of view.
The idea that government should be involved at all may need closer
examination. It seems, however, that
expecting government to solve all our problems has become fixed in people’s
minds.
One thing that appears to come out of the “conversation”
about marriage and family is general agreement that they are
foundational to the health of society. Before
November, we need to look at all of each candidate’s positions on the issues
that are important to us. I think it is
better not to be a "one issue" voter. There are, however, issues that are deal
breakers. These are issues that will tip
the scales when all other considerations are equal, or will cause us to choose a
candidate because we believe they occupy the moral high ground. Marriage and family issues may weigh very
heavily on how we vote.
I ask that we all recognize that changes in the law and
governmental policy always compel everyone to comply, whether they agree or
not. In such cases, the point of view
that prevails is always “forcing” its values on those who disagree. Therefore, the accusation of bigotry is a
knife that cuts both ways. That is the
truth, given in love.
Where do you stand?
How much influence should the government, especially the federal
government, have on marriage and the family?
If you want social change to be reflected in government policy regarding
marriage and family issues, I may disagree with you, but I would give my life
for your freedom to advocate for your position, and I urge you to vote
accordingly.
Lamp in a Corner is a blog that is written from a
Christian point of view. Therefore, I
support traditional values regarding marriage and the family.
I think it would be best if the government’s
role is restricted to providing a safety net for the poor, public education
that is free from bias, and protecting children from abuse and neglect. Further, I ask everyone to remember that any
powers not explicitly given to the federal government by the constitution
belong to the states.
