From the Pastor’s Heart OP-ED BY DR. ROBERT KENNEDY
I have been listening, lately, to the formulas given in the public arenas for the strengthening of families, the stabilization of society and the growth of churches. And I have concluded that most prescribers are missing one of the most essential elements that used to be offered as a top priority.
Let me get straight to it, namely the family altar to glorify God. Maybe you have read my notes on this subject before, but let me bring it to the fore again because we must give new attention to it.
Formally, when families faced a problem, they turned to the central place to solve the problems – the altar. These days families have become busy, rushing to the job here and there, competing with one another (the Joneses), and finding whoever they can blame for the pathologies affecting their families, that they find no time for the altar. Yes, families are resorting to the courts and the secular social agencies to do what they used to do at the family altar, forgetting that the family altar worked for generations to strengthen the family.
In biblical history, we read of the institution of the family altar. I wish I had space here to trace the whole sweep of biblical history, but let me simply reference the earliest history through the times of the Pentateuch, Judges and Kings. In Genesis 3:8, we read of how God came to meet with Adam and Eve in the garden in the cool of the evening. In Genesis 9:1, we read how, after leaving the Ark, Noah offered his sacrifice, blessed the Lord and blessed his sons. In Genesis 12:1-7; 8:13; 13:14-18; 22:9-14, we read about Abraham building his altars of praise, prayer, peace and promise. He was such a prayerful man that he was called “a friend of God” (James 2:23). In fact, when God was about to bring destruction on Sodom, God said that Abraham’s nephew, Lot, lived there in Sodom, he God wouldn’t hide his intentions from Abraham.
In that context, here is how the comment on Abraham reads, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” (Genesis 18:19)
In Genesis 26 we read of an occasion how Isaac found a broken altar that his father Abraham had built and how he repaired the altar. In Genesis 33 we take note that when Jacob came along, he built and repaired the altar. After the altars of Genesis, we read in later bible stories that Moses built altars, Samuel built altars, Elijah built and repaired altars. Each person, or family in the generations that were faithful to God in Israel rebuilt the altars.
Ancient Hebrew/Jewish families would recite the Schema every day at their family altars. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength,” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). By repeating this daily, they affirmed who God was, who they were in relation to God (He is “ours”), and how they were to respond to God, namely to “love” Him with everything they had and in all aspects of life.
Having cited the above examples and their implied significance, I need to ask you whether you have built a family altar to glorify God? Are you one of the busy ones that have no time for God? Are you like the fellow I heard about, who was too busy to pray in the mornings and too tired at nights, that he decided on an easy way to pray? He wrote out a prayer, stuck it on a wall in his bedroom, and as he went to bed, nightly, he pointed to the prayer and said, “There it is God, same as last night.”
Some time ago, I read in a sermon that said, “God is jealous for our families. He wants to invade our space – occupy our living rooms and turn up the spiritual thermostat of our homes! God is longing to restore the place of prayer and worship in our families and give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to change our lives forever!”
So, let me ask my questions again.
1. Do you have a family altar?
2. Do you have a special space (room, corner) in your home that is dedicated to prayer?
3. Do you have a set time (10-20 minutes, morning and evening) dedicated to the reading and study of God’s word?
4. Do you have a prayer agenda (petition, projects, plans, purpose) that you place before God each day?
5. Do you meditate on (or sing) a classic hymn, a spiritual song or chorus at the altar?
6. Do you take a moment to testify (give God praise) at the altar?
7. Do you take a moment to confess to God and each other and share the forgiveness God has given to you?
8. Do you speak a blessing into your life and the life of your family members around you?
9. Do you remember to pray for your neighbors, missionaries, the work you have to do and your nation?
10. Do you understand that the most significant legacy that you can leave for your family is an altar?
Satan hates family altars with a passion, and he will do whatever he can to tear them down, or replace them with idolatrous ones. Satan has been tearing down family altars for the whole history of humanity. Today he has become most aggressive at doing what he likes to tear the down and set up his own altars.
\So, we need to do all we can to secure, build, rebuild and repair our altars. It is said if we have a fiery family altar, the devil will not be able to touch us. He will not be able to make a shipwreck of your family.
Yes, rebuild your family altar. Refurbish it today. Dust off the Bible. Call your family together and let them know you are removing the idolatrous altar. Let them know that you are replacing it with an altar to God.
