Chapter 28 — Fruitage for God in Home and Church

AS SOIL, SEED, AND WEATHER decide the harvest, so do ideas, ideals, and environments measure results in true character building. This divine law of sowing and reaping must ever be kept in mind when we study the problems of home and church and the influence of the light from heaven on these two institutions and their well-defined objectives of happy and holy lives in both parents and children as well as in neighborhoods.FSG 429.1

The idealism of the Spirit of prophecy books has lifting power. Those volumes inspire to prayer and the victorious life. They create a deep longing for heaven. They give an inward urge to lead others to Christ. Anyone who studies them finds in his own heart a deep passion to save the lost. They teach that everyone who knows God will want others to know the joy of salvation. They even impart a deep sorrow and burden for neighbors and relatives who have not yet accepted the advent message. They translate these ideals into the concrete realities of actual experiences in home and church.FSG 429.2

These inspired messages bring us precious instruction for parents and children. We read that a perfect home is to be a foretaste of the life beyond, a small heaven on earth. They picture the home as a place of quiet cheer. We should make the home pleasant and cheerful. “Fathers and mothers, speak kindly to your children.” “Encourage them, and present inducements before them which will attract them at home.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:401. Do not let the children feel that “the house is a tomb.” “Do not let your children see you with a clouded brow.” “Do not expect them to be perfect.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:387. The Sabbath is to be made a delight, the happiest day of the week for the children. We are even to plan an extra dish for the Sabbath dinner. These same messages from God also stress the need of order and discipline in the home. They make the father largely responsible for this. But we are also warned against a father’s arbitrary rule. (Testimonies for the Church 4:126-139.)FSG 429.3

In these messages the marriage vows, so lightly regarded today by both young and old, are honored and defended as of God. They take a strong stand against thoughtless, giddy and un-Biblical divorce. But they also set forth the rights of a wife to protection, stating that wives are not to “submit to become slaves” of their husbands. The relation of man and wife is taught as a most tender and pure relationship of genuine love, never to be lowered or degraded by unworthy acts or desires. There have been times when a few who taught that the end was near have also claimed that it was wrong or at least too late in our age to have a home with children. We find none of those extreme or unnatural notions in the balanced and wise writings of the Lord’s servant. The great lesson of her messages on the family is the happy and beautiful fruitage of godly homes. Her messages, so sweetly reasonable, are opposed to marriage with unbelievers, but they never advocate separation of the believer from the unbeliever on account of religion.FSG 430.1

However, it is far beyond the scope of this chapter to set forth in detail the many, many beautiful lessons of counsel and hope found in the Testimonies on the home life of parents and children. The reader will find a great wealth of spiritual, practical, and sensible instruction on these matters in the bound volumes of the Spirit of prophecy. The chief lesson of all this information on the family is to stress the fruitage for all mankind of a truly good home. The happy influence for Christ of such a home upon the church and the neighborhood is most effectively taught. This double purpose of the home is thus set forth in the following sentences: “In all that pertains to the success of God’s work, the very first victories are to be won in the home life.”—Testimonies for the Church 6:354. “The home on earth is to be a symbol of and a preparation for the home in heaven.”—The Ministry of Healing, 363. This twofold training for mission work here and for life hereafter, however, is not dependent on “an expensive dwelling, elaborate furnishings,” or on mere, “display,” but rather on “a household sustained by honest, self-respecting labor; a life of simplicity; daily conflict with difficulty and hardship; self-sacrifice, economy, and patient, gladsome service.” “Better than any other inheritance of wealth you can give to your children will be the gift of a healthy body, a sound mind, and a noble character.”—The Ministry of Healing, 365, 366. Thousands of homes and families have benefited beyond words from this instruction. For our ministers and ministers’ wives they have been like a reliable signpost to spiritual success. All our members should carefully read and ponder these messages.FSG 431.1