Chapter 20—The Home Atmosphere
Home Influences Affect Society—The heart of the community,
of the church, and of the nation is the household. The well-being of
society, the success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend
upon home influences.—
The Ministry of Healing, 349
(1905).
Effective Agencies for Formation of Character—God designs
that the families of earth shall be a symbol of the family in heaven.
Christian homes, established and conducted in accordance with God’s
plan, are among His most effective agencies for the formation of Chris-
tian character and for the advancement of His work.—
Testimonies for
the Church 6:430
(1900).
Worship at Home—I had pious parents, who in every way tried
to acquaint us with our heavenly Father. Every morning and every
evening we had family prayer. We sang the praises of God in our
household. There were eight children in the family, and every oppor-
tunity was improved by our parents to lead us to give our hearts to
Jesus.—
Manuscript 80, 1903.
Greater the Unity, Greater the Influence—The more closely
the members of a family are united in their work in the home, the
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more uplifting and helpful will be the influence that father and mother
and sons and daughters will exert outside the home.—
Letter 189,
1903
(
The Adventist Home, 37
.)
Authority With Firmness—Authority must be maintained by a
firm severity, or it will be received by many with mockery and con-
tempt. The so-called tenderness, the coaxing and indulgence, used
toward youth by parents and guardians is one of the worst evils which
can come upon them. In every family, firmness, decision, positive
requirements, are essential.—
Prophets and Kings, 236
(1917).
Home an Object Lesson—God would have our families symbols
of the family in heaven. Let parents and children bear this in mind
every day, relating themselves to one another as members of the family
of God. Then their lives will be of such a character as to give to the
world an object lesson of what families who love God and keep His
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