The Family

Part 2 — New Testament Consistency, Word Studies, and Biblical Modesty By Al Felder If the distinction between male and female clothing is rooted in creation and role—rather than in temporary cultural fashion—then we should expect the same principles to remain consistent throughout Scripture. That is exactly what we find. This is not merely an Old Testament concern. The New Testament reinforces distinction, modesty, and purity—often with language that becomes clearer when we

Part 1 — Why God Cares About Distinction By Al Felder From the beginning, God made His design clear: humanity was created “male and female,” with purpose and order woven into creation itself (Genesis 1:26–27). Those differences are not accidents of biology or leftover cultural habits. They are part of God’s wisdom as Creator, and they connect directly to the roles He has given men and women. Our culture often treats gender roles as outdated, but Scripture treats them as meani

By Al Felder “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17). God has always called His people to be different—not different for attention, but different because we belong to Him. That difference reaches into every part of life: what we value, what we pursue, and how we make decisions. And it absolutely includes the way young people approach relationships. If Christians foll

By Al Felder “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her” (Genesis 29:20). Our society is built around convenience—getting what we want when we want it. Patience is treated like a weakness, and determination is often replaced with shortcuts. But Genesis reminds us that Jacob’s willingness to work and wait was not meaningless; it showed the kind of seriousness marriage deserves. Marriage is not a casual arrange

By Al Felder “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22). Our world knows the value of preparation. If a man wants to enter a trade, profession, or even a hobby seriously, he is expected to learn, train, and prepare. Yet one of the most important commitments a man can ever make—marriage—is often entered with little thought beyond feelings, attraction, and convenience. That is backwards. Marriage is not something a man should “

By Al Felder “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Picture the man you want your son to become. You can imagine the externals—his job, the home he lives in, the hobbies he enjoys, the accomplishments he achieves. Then strip all that away. Remove the career, possessions, titles, and status symbols. What do you hope remains? What you find underneath is what matters most: character. When hard pressure comes,

By Al Felder “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of every woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3). God appointed the man to be the head of the family unit—not for selfish control, but for responsibility, sacrifice, and spiritual leadership. And one of the most overlooked places that leadership must show itself is in a father’s relationship with his daughter. Strong fathers are needed to raise strong daug

By Al Felder “Honor thy father and mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” (Exodus 20:12). God placed tremendous emphasis on the attitude children have toward their parents. When He gave the Ten Commandments at Sinai, the command to honor father and mother stood at the front of those commandments dealing with human relationships. The order was intentional: God comes first, and the ability to live rightly with other people begins wit

By Al Felder “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). That verse captures the goal of every Christian father and mother: to train children so thoroughly in God’s ways that faith becomes their lifelong path—not merely a childhood phase. Parenting is one of the highest responsibilities God gives, and it requires our best. Training does not start when children become “old enough to understand.” It begins the mome

By Al Felder “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22). Parents have a profound impact on their children—and that influence can reach generations beyond what we can see. There may come a time when we feel as if we have nothing left to offer. Our children are grown. They have children of their own. But the truth is this: what godly parents can give never truly runs out. Even after children leave home, a father and mother can still shape li

By Al Felder “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20). That single verse reminds us of something simple and profound: every life God has allowed into this world has come through a mother. Scripture offers many portraits of motherhood—some noble, some tragic—but consistently magnifies the beauty and power of a godly mother. Motherhood is not an accident of biology. It is a calling wrapped inside God’s design for the home. A

By Al Felder “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children… when thou sittest… when thou walkest… when thou liest down… when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:6–9). God never intended for children to be raised on spiritual leftovers. He commanded that His word be taught diligently—with care, persistence, and daily intention. And if anyone should lead this work in the home, it is the father. Child

By Al Felder “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and truth… choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14–15). Joshua’s words were not a slogan. They were the settled conviction of a man who had lived long enough to know what happens when God is not taken seriously. He had seen God’s power in Egypt, walked through the Red Sea, served faithfully under Moses, and urged Israel to obey when others tr

By Al Felder “And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren” (Genesis 13:8). Peace and harmony are blessings from God. Yet no matter how close a relationship may be, conflict will arise at times—between husbands and wives, parents and children, and even among members of the body of Christ. The question is not whether conflict will ever appear, but how God’s people handle conflict w

By Al Felder “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church… Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:22–24). In these verses, God reveals a deeper understanding of marriage—one that lifts it far above preference, personality, or culture. Marriage was designed to represent something holy: Christ’s c

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25–29). That command is not a vague encouragement—it is a holy standard. God calls a husband to paint a faithful picture for a watching world: Christ’s love and Christ’s leadership toward His church. When a husband neglects this calling, he doesn’t just harm his home—he distorts the image he is supposed to reflect. The standard is high because the model is perfect. Even whe

Relationships According to the Bible “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18). From the beginning, God made it clear: human life was designed for relationship. We are not isolated beings. We need fellowship, companionship, and connection—relationships that sharpen us and move us toward God’s purpose for our lives. But as important as human relationships are, Scripture shows that the most importan

Recovering God’s design for marriage in a disposable age Jesus said, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:4–6). That single statement cuts through centuries of cultural confusion. Marriage is not a contract we adjust when it becomes inconvenient—it is a covenant God designed “at the beginning.” In Matthew 19, the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus with a question that sounds familiar today: “Is it lawful…for every cause?” In other words—Ca

In every generation, cultures debate and redefine what marriage should be. Laws change, customs shift, and opinions multiply. But long before any nation wrote its first statute or culture formed its first traditions, God Himself designed marriage. Scripture does not begin with a government, a school, or a nation. It begins with a man and a woman in a garden, joined together by their Creator. If we want to understand marriage, we must go back to where God began. 1. Marriage Be

“This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” —Genesis 2:23 What a scene Scripture paints in Genesis 2. On the sixth day, after forming Adam from the dust, God caused a deep sleep to come upon him, took a rib from his side, and fashioned the woman. When God brought her to Adam, he responded with awe: “Bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.” In that moment, God established something that did not come fro