FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART
OP-ED BY DR. ROBERT KENNEDY
Among the themes that I wish to share in my final reflections on the removal of the curses from our lives is that of the rebuilding of the family altar. It might seem passé to say that families are in crisis, and one of the primary reasons is that the family altar has been broken down. But we would do well to remember what families were like when they would sit down for a meal together when the first thing in the mornings and last thing at night was at the family altar together.
If you don’t remember, let me repeat that it was when we were not used to hearing so much about dysfunctional, divorced, addicted, lonely, co-dependent, abusive, distant, traumatized families as we are today. Of course, I am not trying to make the past a panacea. Still, from all of what I can remember from my seven decades of life and the socio-historical sources that I have researched on the family altar, I can say that the destruction of the family altar has indeed brought crises and curses to the family.
I have been studying intensely why many youths and young adults are leaving their churches and casting aside religion, and until I can be persuaded otherwise, I have concluded that the problem is not so much with the churches but with the home and the breakdown of the family altar. Dr. Clint Ritchie, who has examined the change in family worship in his book Rebuilding the Family Altar, challenges parents to accept their God-given role as leaders in the spiritual development of their children. He argues that rebuilding the family altar stresses the need for parents to include more than church attendance in their children’s spiritual journey.
I do not think I need to convince those reading this reflection of the importance of the family altar. However, I have taken the time to identify the following 16 benefits for any who might need encouragement to rebuild their altars.
- Learning the celebration of worship, together
- Learning the reverence of God, together
- Learning to tone up the spiritual life, together
- Learning to build faith together – as is known, faith grows in community
- Sharing life’s burdens, together
- Experiencing the presence of God, together
- Evaluating our values, together
- Communicating, together
- Sharing fellowship, together
- Reading and sharing (discussing, memorizing, interpreting) Scripture together
- Praying together (for each other and others, besides)
- Celebrating successes, together
- Sharing intergenerational life, together
- Singing (hymns, songs, Psalms), together
- Sharing stories of divine care, together
- Passing on the blessings of life, together
In referencing the rebuilding of the family altar, I often think of Abraham, the father of the three great world religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – to see that he built an altar everywhere he went. When his son Isaac traveled to the same places as his father Abraham and found the broken altars, he rebuilt them and offered sacrifices upon them. Likewise, Jacob came to some of the same places and rebuilt the altars.
Of all the altar repairs I have reviewed, one that strikes me most profoundly is that which took place on Mount Carmel. When all of Israel had turned to Baal worship, and the altar of God was broken down, the prophet Elijah came along and challenged King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, the 850 false prophets of Baal, and the people of Israel with the need to re-establish an altar of true worship to God. It was indeed a contest at the altar building, and I am not rehearsing all the details as stated in 1 Kings 18, but I note some of the verses with the conclusion here.
36 And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel, and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that these people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now, when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!
What an experience! Enough to show that when families and communities are willing to rebuild their altars to worship the one true God, the blessings will be abundant, and the curses will cease. I am arguing that families can be mended if we are willing to take the time to rebuild our family altars to worship the true and living God.
Thus, if the individualistic notion tempts you that curses cannot be passed on through a family and generations, look and see what is happening to the families around you. Then, if you are dissatisfied or frightened by what you see, take time to rebuild your family altar and receive the blessings God wants to pour out on you and your family.
