'The family is the most important aspect of the life of a believer.' Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to the teachings of the Christian Faith.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

‘The family is the most important aspect of the life of a believer.’ Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to the teachings of the Christian Faith.

The family is a very important concept in all religions, however especially so in Christianity. Christian teaching stresses that the family should be a unit of support in times of need and it should also teach and educate members of the family unit. It is endorsed in both the Old and New Testaments by God and is shown as being very important. I believe that a family is certainly the greatest thing that I possess and that I would be lost if I did not have a fairly solid family unit.

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The family is a key centre of Christianity, the two ideas go hand in hand together and both should always be honoured. Two of the 10 commandments relate to family life and how to honour various members of a family unit, i.e. “Respect your father and your mother, so that you may live a long time in this land that I am giving you.” (Exodus 20:12). As well as giving advice to children on respecting their parents, there is also advice to parents on how raise children in the proper and Christian way with as little conflict as possible: “Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry. Instead, bring them up with Christian discipline and instruction.” (Ephesians 6:4). In the Old Testament it also says that children are a gift from God and should be treated as such: “Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a real blessing. The sons a man has when he is young are like arrows in a soldier’s hand. Happy is the man who has many such arrows.” (Psalms 132:3-5). In fact the fellowship between Christian believers is often described as a family unit. In Lord’s Prayer we describe God as ‘our father who art in heaven’. This shows just how important a family is considered to be in the Christian faith. One reason for this is that the family is one place where young people are taught about God and the Christian faith: “Never forget these commandments that I am giving you today. Teach them to your children.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

However, families may cause rifts between Christians and God, there may sometimes be conflicts in loyalty: “Whoever loves his father or mother more than me (Jesus) is not fit to be my disciple; whoever loves his son or daughter more than me (Jesus) is not fit to be my disciple,” (St. Matthew 10:37). Thus, despite the importance of family life, God is more important than family at all times.

I believe that family is a key factor in any Christian’s day to day existence; and, as long as you always keep God as your priority, then a family is the second most important aspect in any Christian’s life. It is also an important medium through which the Christian message can be spread. A parent should always teach their children the importance of living and honest Christian lifestyle.