We had our final theological discussion of this summer last evening at the home of the Ventons. Great hospitality and a good discussion. Among topics discussed: spiritual growth; divorce and remarriage; and the believer and evolution.
Most time and passion went into the discussion on marriage and divorce. This morning, Al Mohler has an interesting blog post on "The Fate of the Family and the Future of the Church," citing the sociological research of UVA's W. Bradford Wilcox.
Wilcox notes the strong link, for men in particular, between marriage and church attendance. Men who are husbands and fathers go to church.
Mohler notes, "Marginalize marriage, depreciate childbearing and fatherhood, and say goodbye to young adult men in church."
The link between intact families and congregational vitality is a "sociological law."
This is why marriage must be defended, responsible fatherhood promoted, and divorce frowned upon.
JTR
Are all responsible fathers church attenders? Are all fathers that attend church responsible fathers?
ReplyDeleteGary,
ReplyDeleteThe answers to your questions are "No." This is not what Professor Wilcox's research states. Rather he points to a correlation between men who are responsible husbands and fathers and church attendance.
JTR