Since the dawn of Western Civilization, there have been key pillars upon which society has been built. One of the most valuable of those is the family. The family represents unity, love, strength, and courage all in one. It is where we begin our journey as human beings in this life, where we are nurtured and raised. It is where we are conditioned to the world around us so that we may interact with society in a socially acceptable manner. It is where we learn how to make good choices, and where we learn right from wrong, where we take our first steps in developing good moral judgement. The family unit is one of the most important, fundamental cornerstones of a functional society. That is why those who have their own “utopian” visions of society (often where they are the ruling party) seek to destroy it. That is why it must be avidly protected.
The concept of family has existed since the very beginning. If we look back on Biblical times, there were many families from the point of Creation onwards. There was Adam and Eve and their sons Cain and Abel, the archetypally opposed brothers, something that quite possibly still exists today. There was Noah, his wife Naamah, and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. There was Abraham and Sarah and their son Isaac. There was Elizabeth, Zechariah, and their son John the Baptist, who would later baptise Jesus Christ Himself. And, of course, there was the Holy Family: Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. Looking back on the beginning, God clearly states his intention for the inception of the family. We can see this if we go back to the Book of Genesis, the first Book of the Bible. In Genesis 2:24, which we discussed in the second Edition of Uncovering Christianity: Suffering, Reflection, and the Power of Love, it is written:
When a man marries a woman, they become united as one. Their hearts and souls entwined in the uniting force of love, a gift from above, they become part of each other, each filling a place in the other’s heart. Marriage is shown to be one of the most important aspects of life, when a man and woman are joined together, and go on to create a family of their own, bearing children and guiding them in their lives to grow into good, socially acceptable human beings who are capable of interacting well with others in society. Biblically, marriage is a one of the seven Sacraments created by God. For those unfamiliar with the Sacraments, they are: Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation (these three are known as the Sacraments of Initiation, given they are the three that one will make to become a Catholic), Reconciliation (also known as Confession), Marriage, the Anointing of the Sick (for those who are unwell or facing illness), and Holy Orders (for those becoming Priests). Marriage as described in Genesis 2:24 is perfected by Christ in Matthew 19:3-6 (bold writing is what God the Father said, which Jesus is quoting to remind those whom He is addressing):
Some Pharisees approached Him. They wanted to test Him and asked, “Is a man allowed to divorce his wife for any cause whatsoever?” Jesus replied, “Have you not read that in the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and he said: For this reason a man shall leave father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body? So they are no longer two but one body; what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
In this, we see that once a man and woman are joined together in marriage, they should not be separated by anyone. They are the roots of the family that is to be created, and not only should they remain faithful to one another, but they should ensure the preserve and protect their marriage by all means necessary. There is a lovely verse that demonstrates just how beautiful marriage is:
As for you, husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25)
By likening marriage to the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Church (referred to as “her”), we can see how it is one of the most precious parts of life, and how we should not take it for granted. We should be prepared to sacrifice for the good of our marriage, putting it ahead of more tangible aspects of our lives.
Following marriage is the creation of a family of our own. This, of course, means children. Children are indeed a gift from God, and, as we discussed in the previous edition of Uncovering Christianity: The Sanctity of Life, they are of great value and should not have their lives taken before they have a chance to live. Children are a significant responsibility that one must take on in their lives. Thus, it is pertinent that you are ready to take on that responsibility before conceiving a child. The most common reason for abortions is inconvenience. This may be due to career aspirations or the like, or just not being prepared to take on the responsibility of caring for a child. Here is a very simple but blunt life lesson: If you’re not ready to take on the responsibility of having a child, do not take the risk. Instead, practice abstinence until you are ready. Do not put irresponsibility nor selfishness ahead of an innocent life.
When you are ready to have children, keep in mind that it is a wonderful thing to have many. You may remember in the edition previous to this one, we discussed the following verse:
Sons are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are the sons of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them, for he will not be put to shame when he contends with his foes at the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5)
Having many children is a blessing. Do not be afraid of that prospect. Once you do begin the creation of a family and bring those wonderful bundles of joy into the world, cherish them, nourish them, and nurture them into fine human beings.
It is important that children are brought up in such a way that they are able to interact with others in society so as to build up friendships and relationships and establish a stable societal position. They should be given every opportunity to enjoy their childhood while it lasts, given the world that awaits them as an adult is much more challenging to navigate. But they must also be taught the skills necessary to help them navigate adult life. These skills and life lessons are typically bestowed upon them first and foremost by their parents, but also by their teachers, mentors, friends, and other people who enter and swiftly exit their lives. Sometimes the most valuable lessons are learnt in the most difficult ways. It may be necessary to be hurt in order to learn something that is of immense value to your life and the way you live it.
Parents are, of course, the primary teachers of their children, especially when it comes to social conditioning. Children must be taught from a young age how to behave so that they do not turn others away from them and alienate themselves. They must learn how to discern right from wrong. Parents have the responsibility of guiding their children in the ways of what is socially acceptable. This is again demonstrated Biblically in Proverbs 1:8-9:
Listen, my son, to the teaching of your father, do not ignore your mother’s instruction; for they will be your graceful crown, a precious chain around your neck.
The guidance of a mother and father are of great importance in child’s life. The above verse from Proverbs describes it as something truly special. In providing guidance, a parent adorns a child with wisdom, knowledge, good judgement, and life lessons that they will carry with them throughout their own lives, no doubt one day passing on to their own children.
In return, it is important that children respect their mother and father. In fact, this is one of the Ten Commandments, the ten original rules handed down by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Fifth Commandment as written in the Book of Exodus states:
Honour your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)
Just as parents teach their children important values, including those such as respect and honesty, children must show obedience to their parents and show them the respect they have been taught. Your parents are, after all, how you came to be, how you entered the world. You would not be here without them.
The concept of the nuclear family is one that has provided stability to society. For those unfamiliar with the term, the nuclear family is one consisting of a man and woman (husband and wife/mother and father) and their children (one or more). The nuclear family, headed by two loving married parents, is the safest and most stable grounds for raising children. Children need stability in order to grow into good and decent human beings. The nuclear family is the source of stability. It is also a tenet of Western Civilization. That is why it is under attack.
In the modern world, there are forces at play that seek to destroy the nuclear family. They seek to make marriage into something it is not. They seek to corrupt the minds of children, confusing them, turning them against their parents and friends, and transforming them into embittered human beings who are angry at the world and wish to tear down social norms. How we got here is a question that has no doubt played on the minds of many who fight to protect the tenets of society that ensure its stability. It is, however, obvious. The gradual pervasion of evil into this world has brought about these forces. It is therefore pertinent that we discuss them openly so that we can understand just how great a threat they pose to the West.
From the outset, I have made it clear that marriage has always been between a man and a woman. In recent times, certain groups have sought to demolish this millennia-old tradition and replace it with a wider-ranging definition of marriage, that being between two people, regardless of gender. In fact, the legal definition of marriage no longer uses the words “between a man and a woman” but has replaced them with “between two people”. When same-sex marriage began to be pushed several years ago, we were told it was only about marriage, and nothing else. Yet there were many who have observed the traditional idea and values of marriage as presented first by God Himself that warned that marriage was only the beginning. I was one of those people. Our fight was not only to protect the sacrament of marriage, but to prevent any further impinging of radical beliefs and values upon society.
Unfortunately, we were right. Marriage was indeed only the beginning, a way to infiltrate and tear down the values that held together Western Civilization. In the years since, pervasive gender ideology has worked its way into society and, more concerningly, the education system, warping the minds of innocent children whose minds are still in the developmental stages, thereby making them much more susceptible to the ideas pushed upon them by others, in particular teachers, who seek to turn them against all that is good in the world, indoctrinate them with radical beliefs, and recruit them into destructive forces.
One of the most egregious forms of this mind-warping is making children believe that gender is fluid, confusing them and putting it in their minds that they should question their own gender. Biologically, there are only two genders: male and female. This has been the case since humanity’s conception. You are either born male, or female. Again, there are forces who seek to change this biological fact, telling people, including children, that there are dozens of genders and that they can be whatever gender they want. This is not limited to teachers, but also extends to parents. There are some parents nowadays who clearly do not have the best interests of their children in mind. They may see their young son wearing a dress or playing with toys marketed at girls, or it may simply be that he loves the colour pink, and they will say he is actually a girl and treat him as such, confusing the child. Or it may be the case that the child sees an adult who has changed gender or been introduced to this ideology and begins to think that they are the wrong gender, and their parents reinforce this belief. If such a thing had occurred decades ago, a parent would have told their child this is ridiculous, but now it is seen as “brave”.
Here’s the harsh reality that these people need to learn, as put by political commentator Ashley St. Clair: “Your child is not trans because he put on a dress or tried on makeup. My little brother used to eat grass as a kid but my mom didn’t call him a cow and send him to the slaughterhouse. She told him to cut it out and stop eating grass.” Young kids cannot even make simple decisions yet. In most countries, you cannot vote until you reach the age of 18, you cannot drink until you turn either 18 or 21, you cannot drive until around 16, you cannot even get a tattoo until you turn 18. So how can children be expected to decide they are not the right gender? The impacts on the mental health of children who question their gender and end up changing genders are terrible. Many who do end up experiencing a detrimental impact on their mental health, and their risk of suicide increases significantly. Those who do not change gender because this is not indulged by their parents most often end up growing out of it by their early twenties.
What is concerning is how this doctrine has infiltrated the education system, where children go to learn all kinds of things to help them in their lives and careers. Parents likely do not expect their children to be indoctrinated with these kinds of ideologies that in many circumstances alienate them from their children. Now, it would not surprise many that state schools have been affected, however it might that Catholic schools do not have an issue with this ideology pervading their system either. For example, the Catholic Education Office in the Parramatta Diocese, led by Greg Whitby, has refused to support a push to take gender ideology out of New South Wales’ schools. And the Bishop is yet to take a stance. The corruption of the minds of children is dire.
It seems apparent that more is being done to take the faith out of schools then maintain it. As a Special Religious Education (SRE) teacher (otherwise known as Scripture teacher) in State schools, I have seen the incredible impact the faith can have on the lives of children. I have seen the joy it brings to them, the light it brings to their lives. But organisations like the Teacher’s Federation seek to bring an end to this. They have repeatedly said they wish for Scripture to be taken out of school, claiming it takes up class time that could be used for other purposes. I should make it very clear that I will continue to fight against this. Scripture teaching has enriched my life, and I can see it is enriching for the lives of the children I teach.
Jesus Christ makes it clear in His teachings that children are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. This is presented in Matthew’s Gospel:
At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child, set him in front of the disciples, and said, “I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever makes himself lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever receives such a child in my name receives me.” (Matthew 18:1-5)
Children are valued by Christ because they are innocent, because they are God’s most precious creation. He goes on to make it clear that no one should lead them astray nor corrupt their minds, saying:
“If anyone should cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble and fall into sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the depths of the sea with a large millstone around his neck. Woe to the world because of so many thinks that cause people to fall! Such stumbling blocks are bound to come, but woe to the one who causes others to fall!” (Matthew 18:6-7)
Corrupting the mind of a child and causing them to stumble and fall is truly a terrible thing to do. Christ Himself tells us children must be protected, and warns us against bringing harm to them, be it physical, mental, or otherwise. Children must not be subjected to pervasive ideology that they may fall victim to, that may tear their lives apart. It is a tragedy to see children preyed upon by forces of evil. We must do all we can to protect our children. That is why Scripture is important. That is why I teach it. That is why I am writing Uncovering Christianity. I will fight for our children, and I hope that others will join me.
The family is one of the most important pillars of Western Civilization. While others may seek to destroy it, to bring it crashing down, we must remember that without it society would lack stability and chaos would ensue. In the absence of the family lies misery, wrongdoing, suffering. When you think of the family, what comes to mind? To me, it is happy faces, love, joy, togetherness, all the best parts of humanity. Sure, we might face tough times in our own families. No family is immune from this. Even the Holy Family, that being Mother Mary, the Blessed St. Joseph, Earthly foster father of Jesus, and Jesus Christ Himself, faced tough times, not least the Passion of the Lord, when Jesus was sent to His Death upon the Cross and died to take away sin, so that we might live with Him for eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is up to us to carry the crosses that fall upon our shoulders within our own families, to navigate them using the wisdom bestowed upon us by our parents, and to do all we can to keep our families intact, no matter what may come between us. Family is everything.
This is the Seventh Edition of a Series entitled Uncovering Christianity: Exploring the Roots of the West. This series explores the values and ideas originating from Christianity, looking back at Biblical times, and relating them to the modern world. There are central themes to each piece in this series, with key messages throughout to guide you in your own life. The series also looks at some of the threats to the roots of Western Civilization and discusses what can be done to placate them and protect the foundation of society. Keep an eye out for new series pieces each week.
JJ’s Outlook 