We often speak of family values, family-based this and that, or perfect family, etc. A recent study amongst families on South Africa, in 2002 and 2007, found that only about 40% of children stays with their moms, 3% with their fathers and 23% don't stay with any of the mother or father.
The Beeld reports that there is a significant difference amongst white, coloured, black and indian families, with black and coloured young people generally not staying with both parents. The article suggest that this could be part of the reason for the rise in crime and social decay.
Of course, the question need to be asked what the reasons are for this state of affairs. What are the reasons for the racially skewed nature of family-life. Are coloured and blacks simply generically prone to promiscuity or immoral, cursed or sinful?
Furthermore one should grapple with the more difficult one, on how to respond to this reality, as a church and as Christians, in particular. It seems as if the old 'tug' (discipline) system need to be reviewed, as well as our deepest assumptions about 'normal' or 'perfect' families.
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3 comments:
As I have stated in an earlier blog of an e.g. of a friend of mine who grew up in a broken home. It has now become imperrative that the church looks at the sanctity of marraige and that couples undergo a extreme counseling sessions.
And the time is now for the church to step up to the plate and resume its role as spiritual caretaker by involving itself spiritually in their members hourseholds and lives and understand their dilemeas.
As Reggie has stated in a blog earlier each family is different in terms of dynamics, but the problem is the still there and needs a solution.
Make GOD that solution.Plant the seed within the family and let house visits takeplace. Plant the seed and let it grow within the church and move to homes outside and show that shind and move with the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
There is NO time for delay, as we cannot stop it but limit the effect of the damage done until it is brought to nil.
Churches should really look at their marraige counselling programmes if it is effective and thorough enough and at times say no to a couple who is not showing earnest of the entity of which they want to enter.
The church should once again not sit back and make it a goverment social issue, as these are live souls and do something before their talent end in a graveyard.
I agree, we should revisit our marriage councelling programs, as it remains based on a particular understanding of what (supposed to be)is happening in our society. yet, it seems as if society is going the other way.
We have a catch 22 situation, where the church might say no to a proposed marriage, but it can take place in any case ( in the court) or where, people simply 'vat en sit'.
I think we should be aware of the new challenges that put severe pressure on marriages and remain humble before God
As for the reasons for the state of affairs, one just has to look at the apartheid legislation (now repealed), which deliberately and maliciously broke up families, and was in force for so long that the results it was trying to achieve no longer have to be enforced because it has become a way of life.
So much for the people who say that "apartheid is dead" and that we should "move on". Apartheid is an undead vampire, still sucking the blood of the people, even more in death than in life.
Before we can move on, we need to put a stake through its heart.
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