This article from the New York Times says the following in speaking of the last census numbers,
“What is more, just a fifth of households were traditional families — married couples with children — down from about a quarter a decade ago, and from 43 percent in 1950, as the iconic image of the American family continues to break apart.â€
A friend of mine had suggested I read this story because it stated that for the first time ever the percentage of households with married couples living in them had fallen under 50%. And while that is certainly a milestone worthy of comment, the number quoted above seriously struck me. In only one in five houses you would enter into would you find married parents and children.
Understandably this number has always been relatively low (43 percent in 1950) since everyone from empty nesters to college students living off campus to single parents to elderly widows and widowers would not qualify. But what really shocks me was the drop in percentage in just 60 years. The occurrence of the traditional family has been cut in half in the last half century. And surely this is due to three demographics that have grown in that same time:
- Cohabitation among those not married (a.k.a. living together)
- Divorced people (both biblically justified ones and not)
- Childless marriages (here the growth is in those who willingly choose this lot at least initially)
I could argue that married parents with children are the very cornerstone upon which society is built with all my readers but I know that I would not convince anyone wishing instead to celebrate diversity without any other consideration. They in fact will rejoice when they see these numbers.
Instead let me just speak in house. Christian people who believe that the traditional family is not only the most stabilizing force in society but also is part of God’s great design for humanity, let us take these numbers as a wake up call. Let us hold the traditional family up in our society as the ideal (even if we did not grow up in it or currently live in such an environment) . Let us not suggest through any word or action that cohabitation is good for anyone. Let us come alongside of struggling couples and urge them to reconcile. Let us be ever ready to speak about the blessedness of children.
We of course must not bring grief upon those for whom this life was never possible or is no longer possible. We welcome all and support them where they are. But that must not stop us from holding up the ideal.
Christian friends, let us add to our belief in these things our witness in word and deed. We cannot force anyone. But we can place the ideal before them for their consideration. We can offer an alternative to the celebration of that which is not optimal. And with those in Christ, we can commend it to them as the way of God.
Whatever difference we can make will be good for the individuals affected, the families they make up, and the societies they live in.
