A survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau asked young adults about the importance of various life transitions. Here’s what the young adults said about transitions were “extremely important” to them:
- Completed formal schooling—62%
- Employed full-time—52%
- Capable of supporting a family financially—50%
- Financially independent from parents—43%
- No longer living in parents’ house—26%
- Getting married—12%
Stunning. Less than half of Americans aged 18-34 say marriage and family are part of being an adult. All the other factors have to do with achieving personal autonomy. To be an adult, then, is to be free to exercise one’s will independently of obligations to others, including spouse and children. To choose spouse and children—formerly the most distinctive marks of adulthood—is now considered ancillary to adulthood by most American adults.
Beginning on Mother’s Day, May 13th, we are going to spend six weeks looking at marriage and family life in a brand-new series, Christ in Marriage and Family Living. We hope to get a better understanding of what the Bible has to say about this very important topic and see if can understand exactly what God’s plan is in this area for us. We will be talking covering: 1) Helping Mothers to Be Good Mothers; 2) Five Great Functions of the Holy Spirit; 3) Guidelines for the Prevention of Divorce; 4) The Practice of Forgiveness in Family Relations; 5) Who is Responsible for Christian Home Life; and 6) Helping Fathers to Be Good Fathers. Come join us each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. I hope to see you there.
