Editorial January 28, 1980 Issue

The family and civilization

BEULAH M. ROEGGE

Do you ever think of yourself as a civilization builder? Tomorrow's history isn't yet written; whether it says of our time that civilization advanced or declined does depend on us.

Today the role of the family can be particularly significant. While historically there have been instances where marriage is bypassed, the regular family of mother, father, and children profits by Christian law in its moral provision for marriage. As long as progeny continue to come because of the relationship of two individuals, legitimate family relationship is important in building civilization. Of course, if the family is to serve this purpose, it must be solidly based, or whole, with family members building up, not tearing down, each other.

Whether one is living within the framework of a regular family of parents and children or not, his attitude toward—and prayers regarding—the harmony and progress of the family are vitally important. To make the family one of the building blocks of civilization, we must start with the highest, most encompassing vision of family—the spiritual vision. Also, we must be willing to work for a purer family relationship right where we are. And what is the spiritual vision of family? Isn't it that which is of the fatherhood and motherhood of God, "of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named"?^{Eph. 3:15;} A recent newspaper article, headed "The family—alive and kicking," observes, "Only 13 per cent of the population lives apart from a familial bond—priests and nuns, those living in boarding houses and communes, single senior citizens, and young adults living alone."^{Chicago Tribune, July 24, 1979;}