Meyu Changkiri
Every year, during the third week of May, the Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) observes Christian Home Week. It is a special time set aside to reflect on the importance of strong, healthy, and spiritually grounded families.
This week serves as a reminder of the vital role that homes play in shaping faith and values. The tradition began in 1961, when the Ao Naga Women Ministry proposed forming a Christian Home Committee. By 1964, Christian Home Week was officially established as an annual event. Its main purpose was, and still is, to encourage families to live faithfully according to biblical principles.
In 2025, one of the featured themes is: “Christian Family in a Messed-Up Generation.”
This theme speaks directly to the world we live in today. Many families face daily struggles trying to live by biblical values while surrounded by a culture that often promotes the opposite. The challenges are real, and this theme highlights the urgent need for Christian homes to stay strong and faithful in a time of confusion and brokenness.
What Does “Messed-Up Generation” Mean?
The term may sound harsh, but it reflects a biblical reality. The Apostle Paul once described his times as a “crooked and twisted generation” (Philippians 2:15), echoing words first found in Deuteronomy 32:5. It refers to people who turn away from God’s truth, celebrate what is wrong, and live in rebellion.
Sadly, we see similar things in today’s world. Many people believe that right and wrong are just personal opinions, not based on God’s Word. Divorce rates are high, and many parents are absent from their children’s lives, either emotionally or physically. Families are torn apart by arguments, stress, and unresolved hurt. Technology often replaces meaningful conversation, with screens taking the place of face-to-face connection.
On top of this, many people are confused about their identity, their roles, and their life’s purpose. Faith in God is often ignored or only practiced on Sundays. The Bible’s teachings are seen as old-fashioned or irrelevant. In such an environment, Christian families are finding it harder to raise their children in the faith.
The Struggles Christian Families Face
Christian families today are constantly under pressure to fit in with the world. Social media, entertainment, and peer groups often promote values that go against biblical teachings. Parents are busy with work, and children are overloaded with school and extracurricular activities. This busyness leaves little time for prayer, family meals, or deep conversations.
Many parents feel overwhelmed and unsure about how to guide their children spiritually. Some avoid taking leadership in the home. Children, in turn, lack clear direction and grow up confused about their values and beliefs. Even in Christian homes, worldly ideas can sneak in unnoticed.
But God calls His people to be different. He doesn’t want us to simply survive. He calls us to shine.
How Can Families Shine?
The Holy Bible says in Philippians 2:15 that believers should “shine like stars in the sky” in the midst of a dark and twisted world. Families that follow Jesus are called to be bright lights—offering hope, truth, and love.
Here are some practical ways Christian families can shine:
1. Build Your Life on God’s Word. Let the Holy Bible be the foundation of your home. Read it together as a family. Reflect on it. Talk about it. Make it part of your everyday life. Scripture helps families stay grounded in truth when the world around them is constantly changing.
2. Pray Together. Prayer brings unity and peace. A family that prays together grows closer to God and to each other. Make time for regular prayer – whether it’s at meals, before bed, or during family devotions. Let your children hear you pray for them and with them.
3. Set Healthy Boundaries. Be careful about what you allow into your home through the internet, TV, or social media. Teach children to be wise about the content they consume and the friends they choose. Don’t be afraid to say “no” when something doesn’t align with your values.
4. Model Christlike Living. Children learn more from what they see than from what they hear. Parents must live out what they teach. Show forgiveness. Speak kindly. Serve one another. Admit your mistakes and ask for forgiveness when you’re wrong. Live in a way that reflects Jesus.
5. Be Intentional with Time. Don’t let life just happen. Be purposeful. Plan spiritual goals for your family. Make time for worship, service, and rest. Set aside time for each other. Create traditions that build faith and memories.
6. Stay Connected to the Church. The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone. Be part of a church community. Attend worship regularly. Get involved in ministry. Surround your family with other believers who can encourage and support you.
Why This Is So Important
When families live according to God’s design, they become a powerful witness in the world. A home filled with love, peace, forgiveness, and truth stands out. It shows people that there is a better way – a way that leads to life.
Children raised in such homes grow up with a strong foundation. They learn how to love others, how to work through problems, and how to trust God. Christian families are like small churches. They are places where disciples are made, where grace is practiced, and where God is glorified.
What the Bible Warns Us About
Paul’s warning about a “crooked and twisted generation” is serious. The Greek word for “crooked” (skolios) means morally bent or dishonest. “Twisted” (diastrephô) means corrupt or distorted. This describes a society that calls good “evil” and evil “good” (Isaiah 5:20). It’s a world that mocks God’s wisdom and has no clear moral direction.
But Paul doesn’t stop there. He urges Christians to be “blameless and pure” – not perfect, but people of integrity. People who walk in God’s truth and extend His grace. Families can live this out every day in the way they talk, work, forgive, and love.
What Does an Exemplary Family Look Like?
A Christian family that shines isn’t perfect. It has its share of struggles. But it reflects God’s light in the way it responds to those struggles. It stays united in Christ, even when there are disagreements. It loves deeply and forgives quickly. It worships together and serves others. It holds on to truth while showing compassion.
Such a family puts Jesus at the center – not comfort, not money, not success. They choose faithfulness even when it’s hard. They speak truth with love. They stay away from gossip, anger, and bitterness. They look for ways to bless others – in the church, in their neighborhood, and in their extended family.
They show their children that Jesus is not just for Sundays. He is part of everyday life. A Word of Hope for Struggling Families
No family has it all together. Some families feel weak, tired, or stuck. But the good news is this: God is in the business of restoring what’s broken.
Start small. You don’t have to fix everything overnight. Say one prayer together each day. Have one screen-free meal a week. Choose one Bible verse to read and talk about. Little steps can lead to big change.
God’s grace is enough. He gives strength to those who seek Him. He blesses the home that honors Him. He turns weakness into strength and brings healing where there’s hurt.
Rise and Shine
Christian families are chosen by God to reflect His love and truth in this generation. In a world full of confusion and darkness, they are called to be steady, pure, joyful, and hopeful. The darker the night, the brighter the stars.
Let us take the words of Philippians 2:15 to heart: to live as children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation, and to shine like stars in the sky.
A family that is rooted in Christ, filled with grace, and grounded in truth is one of the most powerful testimonies the world can see. May our homes be places of light, love, and lasting faith.
(An extract from a sermon preached at Mokokchung Baptist Church during the 2025 Christian Home Week)