3.6 Christian teachings on family life 70 Learning outcomes By the end of this lesson, you should be able to: understand Christian teachings on family life explain why Christians hold certain beliefs about the relationships within the family explain how Christianity aims to help families give your opinion on these beliefs and justify your opinion. The family as the foundation of society The family is still thought to be the basis of Western society and most Christians believe that children should be brought up in a loving and supportive family. The Church should be a model of family life with members of the Church united like a family. Most Christians believe that the best foundation for the family is marriage, and they will begin to support families by supporting couples as they prepare for marriage and by expressing their intention to support the couple throughout their married life. For discussion What are the main Christian beliefs concerning the family? Husband and wife, parents and children Marriage is given, that husband and wife may comfort and help each other, living faithfully together in need and in plenty, in sorrow and in joy it is given that they may have children and be blessed in caring for them and bringing them up in accordance with God s will. (Church of England Prayer Book) The Bible teaches that children should Honour your father and your mother (Exodus 20:12). Looking at the relationship between parents and children, it teaches: Children, obey your parents Parents, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:1,4). Activities Christians believe that children are a gift from God, and that parents have responsibilities towards them: to care for them properly to teach them how to live and to accept authority to teach them about God to take their child to be baptised and promise to bring them up in a loving, Godly home. In return, children are expected to respect their parents and to obey them until they are adults themselves. A Christian family. 1 What is the family in the photograph doing and why? 2 What would you include in a set of guidelines for bringing up a child? Remember that you have to cater for the child s emotional and spiritual needs as well as physical ones. 3 What are the main guidelines that a Christian parent should follow when bringing up children? 4 What are the main guidelines that a child should follow when being brought up by Christian parents?
The importance of the family is underlined by this statement by the Roman Catholic Church: The family is the community in which, from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honour God and make good use of freedom (Catechism of the Catholic Church). For discussion What does Honour your father and your mother mean? Christians believe that all children have the right to be brought up in a loving family setting, so some Christians work with charities involved with family life, including the Children s Society and the National Children s Homes. The social environment of the Church Christian Churches try to help parents to raise their children in a stable, Christian environment, taking pressure off them when necessary and helping them to stay together in a happy unit. This starts at the beginning of life, when parents bring babies to church for an infant baptism, or dedicate the children to God at a service of dedication and promise to bring them up in a loving Christian home. Older children can re-affirm these baptismal vows for themselves in a believer s baptism or confirmation. As children grow up, they may attend Sunday Schools and youth groups where young people can learn about God in a social environment. Church schools educate children in a Christian environment and many Christian parents choose to send their children to a Church or faith school rather than a community school. For discussion Why do you think Christian parents may want to send their children to a Church school? Churches also hold family services on Sundays and special services at Christmas, Easter and Harvest festival. They may also help in the running of such organisations as the Scouts and the Brownies. Many churches will have a time in the weekly service which is targeted at the children, and in which they may participate. Activities 5 List the ways in which the Church can help to support Christian families. 6 Explain why family life is so important for Christians. Help and support from the Church Christian Churches also offer help and advice to families through counselling and the running of such organisations as the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council and the Child Welfare Council. Churches may help Christian adults to look after their elderly parents through such organisations as the Methodist Homes for the Aged. Grown children have responsibilities towards their parents. As much as they can, they must give them moral support in old age and in times of illness, loneliness or distress. (Catechism of the Catholic Church) Summary Christians see the family as very important for bringing up children so that they know what is good. Parents should take responsibility for teaching their children and children should respect their parents. Christian churches offer parents support in bringing up their family and encouraging children to become Christians. 71
1 3.6: Christian teachings on family life Lesson plan 6 (Student Book pages 70 71) Learning outcomes By the end of the lesson: (AO1) all students will be able to outline Christian teachings on family life some students will be able to explain why some Christians hold such beliefs some students will be able to explain how Christianity aims to help the family (AO2) all students will be able to give their own opinions about Christian teaching on family life some students will be able to give reasons for their opinions and show that they have considered a different opinion a few students will be able to evaluate different points of view, showing why they consider their own view to be the right one. Resources required Resource sheet 3.6. Recap of previous experience and prior knowledge Briefly recall the previous lesson, particularly the religious issues discussed. Starter 5 minutes Ask the students to say what they think of when they hear the word family. Ask them to describe the different types of family set-ups they are familiar with or have seen or heard about. Main teaching 10 minutes In small groups, ask the students to think about two contrasting experiences of family life that they have seen on television. One should be positive and the other negative. They should describe what happened and why. How realistic are media portrayals of the family?
2 15 minutes In pairs, ask students to work through pages 70 and 71 of the Student Book. Resource sheet 3.6 contains some more information as well as activities that could be used to add to the debate. Students should report back to the rest of the class. 25 minutes Ask students to create a guide for bringing up children in the Christian faith. This activity lends itself to the use of ICT. Plenary 5 minutes Ask students to share highlights from their guides with the rest of the class. Go quickly around the class, asking them to share their responses to the issues raised and to evaluate whether or not Christian teaching has a positive or negative effect on family life. Homework 1 week Students should answer the following exam-style question: Explain how Churches help support family life. (8 marks) Differentiation Lower ability students may need encouragement to see beyond family stereotypes. Also, be aware of any students who have difficult family backgrounds. Links Citizenship: 1.2a, 1.3b, 2.1a, c, 3l Personal Wellbeing: 1.1c, 1.2b, 1.5a, b, 2.1a, 2.3d, 3a, d, g, h, i, j
1 Resource sheet 3.6 Christian teachings on family life Christians believe that one of the main purposes of marriage is to have children and to bring them up in a loving Christian environment. Christian parents make promises to protect their children and to bring them up in a loving way, and the Bible requires children to respect their parents. 1 In pairs, discuss and write down what you think each of the following quotations mean. Quotation Grown children have responsibilities towards their parents. As much as they can, they must give them moral support in old age and in times of illness, loneliness or distress. (Catechism of the Catholic Church) Meaning Honour your father and your mother. (Exodus 20:12) Children, obey your parents... Parents, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1,4)
2 2 Below are some of the ways in which Christian Churches support family life. Which of them do you think is the most important and which is the least important? Cut out the cards and rank them from the most important to the least. Give reasons for your ranking. 3 Can you think of any other ways in which Christian churches could help families?