FAITH & CULTURE 16 january 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good news • South Florida Edition The natural family — that God-designed part of the created order, which is the fountain of new life, the training ground for future members of society, and the bulwark of societal liberty — is very much undermined and even threatened in twenty-first century America. Scanning the horizon, we see increasing numbers of young adults rejecting the institution of marriage and family, a spike in the number of children born out of wedlock, a steady number of families torn apart by divorce, and a radical redefinition of marriage by the Supreme Court of the United States. When we focus on alarming changes like these, it’s easy to lose sight of the significance of the family in God’s design for the world. Thus, we are wise to remind ourselves of God’s design for the family and equip ourselves to articulate its necessity in the face of competing secular views. In what way is the family unit vital for the flourishing of societies and nations? The history of the human race did not begin through isolated individuals but through the marital relationship of a man and woman and their subsequent family. From that first family have come many communities, tribes and nations. In other words, from that first family have come many societies. The word society refers to a group of people living together in an ordered community. A society arises when individuals agree to cooperate together to pursue common interests. Although animals have societies also, human society is unique in characteristics such as language, morality and religion. So, a society is a group of people who pursue common objectives by living together in a community characterized by language, morality and religion. A person becomes a member of society by being born into a family of some sort — whether a traditional family unit, a foster family or some other type of familial unit. And it is within the family that a person learns to be a member of society. He or she learns to submit to authority (fathers and mothers), negotiate with peers (siblings), respect other individuals, and contribute to the common good. In other words, the family is the most basic unit of society. The family is a fixed aspect of creation order, one that God has ingrained in human nature. It is prior to the state and should be safeguarded and sheltered by the state. For it is only through healthy families — which are prior to the state — that the state can maintain optimal strength and health. What can we do to affirm God’s design in an age that devalues the family? The first thing we must do is strengthen our own families. As husbands and wives, we must love our spouses unconditionally, committing to work on our marriages so that our children will have a high view of marriages. As fathers and mothers, we must model for our children the kind of love that God has for them. The second thing we must do is encourage young couples to welcome fatherhood and motherhood. Toward that end, we can praise the virtues of parenthood and point out the demerits of purposely childless marriages. Parenthood is a high calling and a great blessing from God. The third thing to do is exert our influence at the political level. Toward this end, we must encourage legal and constitutional protections around marriage as the union of one man and one woman. We must encourage the transformation of housing and welfare programs so that they incentivize and reinforce the family unit. We must encourage tax incentives that are tied to marriage and the number of children. We must resist our nation’s aggressive promotion of androgyny and homosexual marriage. And, finally, we must pray. Pray that God will strengthen our own marriages and families. Pray that God will empower us to be change agents in a society that devalues marriage and family. Pray that God will bless our efforts so that enemies of the traditional family unit lose their influence. This is essential for a flourishing society. Rob Pacienza is the Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (Fort Lauderdale, FL), the CEO and President of Coral Ridge Ministries, and the Founder of the Institute for Faith and Culture. - Dr. Rob Pacienza - Senior Pastor, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church Family Matters
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