I am often asked how to explain the phrase in Nehemiah 8:2, "So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding." The question typically comes from people who want to use this text to prove us wrong on the issue of age segregated Sunday school. The idea is, "see, the children were not included in this meeting, therefore, the legitimacy of age segregated Sunday schools are proven conclusively." Here is Dr. Voddie Baucham on the matter. Click Here

A defining moment in my life came in the year 2000 when I was listening to Dennis Rainey at a conference in Dallas Texas. He said,

“The family is God’s smallest unit in the battle for the soul of any nation. He designed the family as the birthplace and residence of Christianity. It is the place where the knowledge, fear, and love of the Lord are taught by parents and learned by children… If the soul of America is to be restored, it will be done one home, one family at a time, and in the church, we assist that by proclaiming God’s truth for the family. We need a ‘family reformation.’ Just as the Protestant Reformation restored vibrant faith to the soul, so a family reformation can restore spiritual vitality in our homes, communities, and nation…”
--Building Strong Families. Dennis Rainey, Crossway Books, 2002, p16-17

I was convinced that he was right and that the reformation must start with pastors and with fathers. Since God has made elders spiritual heads of churches and fathers the spiritual heads of households, without a radical reformation in their practices there will be no reformation.

Further, unless fathers rise up to play their biblical roles, there will never be sustainable reformation of any kind. When fathers do not adequately teach their children, reforms only last one generation and then everyone goes back to doing what is right in their own eyes. This is a systemic problem with many reformations in the church. When Deuteronomy 11:9 is not heeded and the children of the reformers are not taught, reformation dies with the leaders. (See also: Judges 8:32-35)
 

During his first 100 days, our president has already proven he is no friend of the church or the family. During this period we have been observers of what seems to be the gutting of the moral capital of America. Now, in an absolutely unprecedented Presidential Proclamation, Barack Obama has officially named this month in honor of sodomites.

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists."

He also states his pleasure in promoting sodomites in the White House.

"I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration -- in both the White House and the Federal agencies -- openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism."

Romans chapter one addresses this phenomenon in devastatingly descriptive detail.

18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

21. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another ; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

32. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.