Commandment #5: Over the past several generations such social changes as the new morality movement, divorce, feminism, same-sex marriage, sex-changes and optional sex identification have severely weakened the family on a world-wide scale. The negative effects of family disintegration takes several forms. One of those forms affects the most vulnerable among us–the children. For example, we have seen a drastic increase in single-parent families throughout the world with the most advanced nations leading the way. Those who keep up with societal change within their society will notice two distinct truths: 1) family problems are increasing at an alarming rate and 2) family problems have serious societal ramifications.

There is a world-wide attempt to re-define the family with the ultimate goal of destroying the family as the Lord designed it. For any social movement, whether good or bad, there is a starting point. For the destruction of the family, as with every other negative thing that happens to us as individuals or as groups, Satan’s takeover of the church is the root of the downfall of the traditional family unit. As I have stated many times, as goes the church, so goes the nation. I will at this time add to that saying; as goes the nation, so goes the family, as goes the family, so goes the individual.

The Holy Scriptures tell us time and again that all bad things that happen to us on the individual level begin with sin. When a nation rebels against God the nation pays the price. Today we are watching the entire world giving in to Satan and rebelling against the Lord. As a result the entire world is about to suffer the consequences. However, not everyone in a rebel nation will suffer. God’s Very Elect saints will be taken to a place of safety before the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord begin in earnest. Read about this place using Safety as the key word. Today we are experiencing what Jesus called “the beginning of sorrows” (Mat. 24:1-8) that will eventually increase in size and deadliness until the entire world is thrown into World War III. Why? Readers of this website know the answer is SIN. Sin is the transgression of God’s Law (1 Jn. 3:4), the fifth commandment of which commands us to honor our parents.

One of the major problems relative to commandment #5 is that so many families consist of only one adult member, and it is usually the mother. It is impossible to honor a father who is not present. Some other effects of a fatherless family situation came out in a national study in which the following problems were found to plague families in which the father plays no significant part. This tragedy involves 43% of American families. The terrible findings of the study are a real eye-opener. Each figure and fact is true relative to the children living in a family setting in which the father is absent:

90% of runaways/ 71% of teen pregnancies/ 63% of youth suicides/ 85% of behavioral disorders/ 90% of repeat arrests/ 71% of high school dropouts/ 75% of those in youth drug abuse centers/ 70% of those in youth state mental centers/ 85% of those in youth prisons are from single parent families. These heart-breaking figures tell us what happens when the family does not play the God-intended role in a society.

We are living in extremely dangerous and violent times. Do we know the causes behind what we see on the news? God gave the Apostle Paul a prophetic glimpse into our day which answers the question. The apostle notes for us one of the main causes as recorded in Second Timothy 3:1,2: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS ….” A shockingly good example of such respect came when I watched a three or four-year old boy kick his mother in the leg. Her response was a pleading: “Don’t kick me.” That was it, just words. As a general rule, today’s children have little if any respect for their parents. Then those children grow up and raise children who have even less respect for them. We have built a permissive society in which many people of all ages have little regard for anyone in authority. We now see adults in the street harassing the police who are doing what they are paid to do. The example they are setting will be reflected in the future actions of their children.

The downfall of America and other countries is the result of a falling away from the Lord that began several years ago. In the Greek language the spiritual problem is called “apostasy.” When an individual leaves the Lord his/her life immediately begins to change. The same thing happens when a nation walks away from Him. Disrespect toward parents is one of the first symptoms of the mental affliction that arises when a people rebel against their Creator. We are about to see where that disease will lead. L.J.