ADDVENTIST HOME

Home Is the Heart of All Activity—Society is composed of
families, and is what the heads of families make it. Out of the heart
are “the issues of life”; and the heart of the community, of the church,
and of the nation is the household. The well-being of society, the
success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend upon
home influences.1
The elevation or deterioration of the future of society will be determined
by the manners and morals of the youth growing up around
us. As the youth are educated, and as their characters are molded in
their childhood to virtuous habits, self-control, and temperance, so
will their influence be upon society. If they are left unenlightened
and uncontrolled, and as the result become self-willed, intemperate
in appetite and passion, so will be their future influence in molding
society. The company which the young now keep, the habits they
now form, and the principles they now adopt are the index to the
state of society for years to come.2
The Sweetest Type of Heaven—Home should be made all that
the word implies. It should be a little heaven upon earth, a place
where the affections are cultivated instead of being studiously repressed.
Our happiness depends upon this cultivation of love, sympathy,
and true courtesy to one another.3
The sweetest type of heaven is a home where the Spirit of the
Lord presides. If the will of God is fulfilled, the husband and wife
will respect each other and cultivate love and confidence.4
[16] Importance of the Home Atmosphere—The atmosphere surrounding
the souls of fathers and mothers fills the whole house, and
is felt in every department of the home.5
To a large extent parents create the atmosphere of the home
circle, and when there is disagreement between father and mother,
the children partake of the same spirit. Make your home atmosphere
fragrant with tender thoughtfulness. If you have become estranged
and have failed to be Bible Christians, be converted; for the character,you bear in probationary time will be the character you will have at
the coming of Christ. If you would be a saint in heaven, you must
first be a saint on earth. The traits of character you cherish in life
will not be changed by death or by the resurrection. You will come
up from the grave with the same disposition you manifested in your
home and in society. Jesus does not change the character at His
coming. The work of transformation must be done now. Our daily
lives are determining our destiny.6
Creating a Pure Atmosphere—Every Christian home should
have rules; and parents should, in their words and deportment toward
each other, give to the children a precious, living example of what
they desire them to be. Purity in speech and true Christian courtesy
should be constantly practiced. Teach the children and youth to
respect themselves, to be true to God, true to principle; teach them to
respect and obey the law of God. These principles will control their
lives and will be carried out in their associations with others. They
will create a pure atmosphere—one that will have an influence that
will encourage weak souls in the upward path that leads to holiness
and heaven. Let every lesson be of an elevating and ennobling [17]
character, and the records made in the books of heaven will be such
as you will not be ashamed to meet in the judgment.
Children who receive this kind of instruction will … be prepared
to fill places of responsibility and, by precept and example, will be
constantly aiding others to do right. Those whose moral sensibilities
have not been blunted will appreciate right principles; they will put
a just estimate upon their natural endowments and will make the
best use of their physical, mental, and moral powers. Such souls are
strongly fortified against temptation; they are surrounded by a wall
not easily broken down.7
God would have our families symbols of the family in heaven.
Let parents and children bear this in mind every day, relating themselves
to one another as members of the family of God. Then their
lives will be of such a character as to give to the world an object
lesson of what families who love God and keep His commandments
may be. Christ will be glorified; His peace and grace and love will
pervade the family circle like a precious perfume.8
Much depends on the father and mother. They are to be firm
and kind in their discipline, and they are to work most earnestly to have an orderly, correct household, that the heavenly angels may be
attracted to it to impart peace and a fragrant influence.9
Make Home Bright and Happy—Never forget that you are to
make the home bright and happy for yourselves and your children
by cherishing the Saviour’s attributes. If you bring Christ into the
home, you will know good from evil. You will be able to help your
children to be trees of righteousness, bearing the fruit of the Spirit.10
[18] Troubles may invade, but these are the lot of humanity. Let
patience, gratitude, and love keep sunshine in the heart though the
day may be ever so cloudy.11
The home may be plain, but it can always be a place where
cheerful words are spoken and kindly deeds are done, where courtesy
and love are abiding guests.12
Administer the rules of the home in wisdom and love, not with
a rod of iron. Children will respond with willing obedience to the
rule of love. Commend your children whenever you can. Make their
lives as happy as possible…. Keep the soil of the heart mellow by
the manifestation of love and affection, thus preparing it for the seed
of truth. Remember that the Lord gives the earth not only clouds
and rain, but the beautiful, smiling sunshine, causing the seed to germinate
and the blossom to appear. Remember that children need not
only reproof and correction, but encouragement and commendation,
the pleasant sunshine of kind words.13
You must not have strife in your household. “But the wisdom
that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to
be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and
without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
of them that make peace.” It is gentleness and peace that we want in
our homes.14
Tender Ties That Bind—The family tie is the closest, the most
tender and sacred, of any on earth. It was designed to be a blessing to
mankind. And it is a blessing wherever the marriage covenant is entered
into intelligently, in the fear of God, and with due consideration
for its responsibilities.15
Every home should be a place of love, a place where the angels
[19] of God abide, working with softening, subduing influence upon the
hearts of parents and children.16 Our homes must be made a Bethel, our hearts a shrine. Wherever
the love of God is cherished in the soul, there will be peace, there will
be light and joy. Spread out the word of God before your families in
love, and ask, “What hath God spoken?”17
Christ’s Presence Makes a Home Christian—The home that
is beautified by love, sympathy, and tenderness is a place that angels
love to visit, and where God is glorified. The influence of a carefully
guarded Christian home in the years of childhood and youth is
the surest safeguard against the corruptions of the world. In the
atmosphere of such a home the children will learn to love both their
earthly parents and their heavenly Father.18
From their infancy the youth need to have a firm barrier built up
between them and the world, that its corrupting influence may not
affect them.19
Every Christian family should illustrate to the world the power
and excellence of Christian influence…. Parents should realize their
accountability to keep their homes free from every taint of moral
evil.20
Holiness to God is to pervade the home…. Parents and children
are to educate themselves to co-operate with God. They are to bring
their habits and practices into harmony with God’s plans.21
The family relationship should be sanctifying in its influence.
Christian homes, established and conducted in accordance with
God’s plan, are a wonderful help in forming Christian character….
Parents and children should unite in offering loving service to Him
who alone can keep human love pure and noble.22
The first work to be done in a Christian home is to see that the [20]
Spirit of Christ abides there, that every member of the household
may be able to take his cross and follow where Jesus leads the way.23