Family Driven Faith

"You are not likely to see any general reformation, till you procure family reformation. Some little religion there may be here and there; but while it is confined to single persons, and is not promoted in families, it will not prosper, nor promise future increase" (Richard Baxter quoted in Family Driven Faith p213)

Baxter's wise observation is the foundation of this book. Clearly Voddie Baucham has internalized the necessity of "family reformation," the turning of the family together to Christ. Furthermore, he does not write without experience. Having grown up in a single parent home, and then raising three children in a faithful marriage, Baucham is not naive. He knows the challenges, and what is at stake.

I highly recommend his section on family worship (pages 139-148) which makes a strong case for the importance of family worship, and offers practical encouragement for how to establish the practice in a home that doesn't have a history of family worship. I was convicted afresh of my own need to move from Bible reading and prayer routine into family worship that incorporates reading, prayer, dialogue (through catechism) and worship. It became very apparent to me that the centrality of worship in family life can have an entirely different tone than even faithful reading and prayer may produce. Now I need to put it into practice!

I also recommend the final chapter, A Radical Departure from the Norm, not as a prescription for how to change, but as a helpful glimpse into family-integrated church. He identifies the following distinctives of family-integrated church:

1. Families worship together (rather than sending kids out during the service)
2. No systematic segregation (worship, discipleship and evangelism are age diverse)
3. Evangelism and discipleship in and through homes (through daily family worship)
4. Emphasis on education as a key component of discipleship (i.e. private or home schooling)

For me, it was an eye-opening glimpse into another possible way of worship, discipleship and evangelism.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend this book without qualification. The author is very opinionated, and makes statements that go much farther than I would go. So for those who are easily offended, I wouldn't recommend this book. If you can sift well (and aren't easily riled), this book is a helpful one for encouraging parents lead their children into the knowledge of God.