It is important to see that the family altar is commanded by Scripture. Study such specific ad monitions as Deuteronomy 6:4-11; Jeremiah 10:25 and Ephesians 6:1- 4. There are many illustrations which show it, too. The patriarchs always thought of an "altar." In Israel's tabernacle worship there were both the altar of sacrifice as well as the altar of incense. The latter was symbolic of the minis try of intercession and prayer. The Bible gives us many indications of the importance of this practice. In Luke 10:38-42 our Lord points out that Mary had chosen the better portion because she was desirous of sitting at the feet of Jesus. "One thing is needful," He said, and the implication is clear. We must take moments out of a busy schedule to spend in His presence. The Family altar is essential to fulfill God's purpose for the fam ily. While "Children are an heri tage of the Lord," we do not have a right to do with them as we please, but as He pleases! God in tended that our children should retain a sacred memory of home. The Family Altar is demanded by our times. Every conceivable de vice has been invented to draw our lies move frequently; mothers hav children away from home. Families move frequently; mothers have gone to work; homes are broken by divorce and delinquency; and the world itself has invaded the sanctum of the home through tel evision. It is estimated that a child, up through the years of high school, spends 15,000 hours in front of a TV set. (That is more time than he spends in school!) It is still true that families which pray together, stay together. Page 37
FAMILY ALTAR?
something less than sanity to be lieve that God can bless this land if homes allow altar-fires to burn out! One of our great orators dur ing the Civil War period was Hen ry Grady. He had been invited to visit New York's Wall Street. Later he observed “ It's the heart-beat of America." Shortly after that he went to Washington, D.C. "This," he concluded, "is the heart of America." Still later, while in a ru ral community where he had spok en, he was invited to stay with a godly farmer and family for the night. After they had enjoyed some fellowship, they sat down to an evening snack. The father ex plained, "Mr. Grady, it's the cus tom around here to read the Bible and pray twice each day. You read, and I'll pray." Mr. Grady read a portion out of Psalms, and the far mer prayed. He plead with God for the nation, for their church, for his loved ones, and "for the stran ger within the gates." That night, Henry Grady lay sleepless upon his bed, reflecting on the travels of the past few days. He said to him self, "I was mistaken. Wall Street and Washington, D.C. are not the heartbeat of America. This is truly the heart of America! It is homes like this that have made our nation great, and will keep it safe and se cure. If the family altars are broken down and our children are per mitted to grow up without religi ous teaching and training, then Wall Street and Washington can never save us from chaos and ruin."
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