Your Home on the Beach

Pastor Mike and Mary Webb

By Pastor Mike Webb

My Uncle John was a WWII soldier who was part of the first wave of troops to land on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. He was injured while helping to establish and hold a spearhead, which was the farthest inland thrust at that time.

On visits to relatives in Utah, my mother often talked about Uncle John with my aunts and uncles. His efforts and injuries made the family proud because we knew that he had played a significant role that contributed to victory in the war.

Oxford’s Dictionary defines a beachhead as “a defended position on a beach taken from the enemy.”

As Christian parents, we have a mission like that of Uncle John.

Our mission is to make our homes a beachhead for Christ in a culture and environment that is hostile to Christian family values and the spiritual wellbeing of our children.

My heart goes out to parents who have embraced the challenge of bringing up godly children in the day and age in which we live.

While pastoring in Canada, my wife Mary and I taught parenting classes to the parents in our congregation. As part of the class, I asked my two daughters – both of whom are virtuous and godly wives and mothers – to answer this question: “What do you think was important in your home environment growing up that helped you to keep serving God once you came of age?” Their responses are insightful.

Brittany, our oldest, responded: “I would say that our family relationship meant everything for me. I loved and liked you guys too much to not be with you or to think about being kicked out if I messed up. I never wanted to disappoint my family.

“I had too much fun with you guys. What or who could have been more fun? I genuinely loved being with you and spending time together. Our home was a haven. I enjoyed our trips to Buffalo, our game nights, walks, and being together.”

Kristin, our youngest – being a pastor’s daughter – broke it down into three components: “The right balance of freedom to express myself and make my own decisions while also being restricted from certain things. You guys knew where to draw the line, but you were never overbearing.

“I had some questionable music that you guys let me listen to but other music that was completely forbidden. When I got really saved, I threw the questionable music out myself, without you guys having to say a thing to me.

“Second, having a good relationship with my family where, even if I didn’t have a good relationship with God at times, I never wanted to run away or rebel because I loved my family and enjoyed my home too much. (This was achieved through an amazing home setting that established fun times and memories and loving relationships that were built between each of my family members and me).

“Thirdly, God was always a central focus, not something to be jammed down our throats (i.e., hounding us by asking if we had prayed or read our bibles). It was just an unspoken mission that was central to our family.

“The mission: We are going to see this nation reached for Jesus. I think that the central life mission imparted through lifestyle was imperative.”

Drawing from my daughters' perspectives and combining them with scriptural principles, such as those found in Philippians chapter 4, I propose some spearheading initiatives that will help us to establish and maintain our homes on the beach.

1. Happiness: We must strive to make the environment of our homes one of joyfulness. Philippians 4:4 tells us to rejoice in the Lord always.

In Scripture the word blessed is often translated as happy. A genuinely blessed home is a happy home. Indeed, “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Children who become convinced that all the fun and happiness is only happening out there in the world will struggle against the pull of the world. (See also: Psalm 127 and Ecclesiastes 9:7-9).

2. Gentleness: We should be careful not to be overbearing or overly strict. Philippians 4:5 tells us that we should communicate “gentleness” or “moderation.”

Paul the Apostle twice warned fathers not to anger or discourage their children by being harsh (See Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21). Gentleness is both a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23) and a biblical command (2 Timothy 2:24).

We must learn to balance godly discipline with love and grace. Christian homes should be a safe place for kids to ask tough questions.

3. Peace: The atmosphere of our homes should be peaceful. Many people have told Mary or me, “I feel the peace of God in your home.” We should pray to make our homes a place of refuge and sanity in a crazy world.

Philippians 4:6-7 links God’s peace to our prayer: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Perhaps the words I have prayed most often over the years of my Christian life are found in Psalm 127:1: “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”

God’s peace is a sentry that guards our hearts and minds from the world’s turmoil and trouble.

4. Devotion: Family devotion to God and to one another is vital (See Philippians 4:8-9). A family that together focuses on doing God’s will and work will be strong. We have the New Testament example of the household of Stephanas, all of whom “devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints” (1 Corinthians 16:15).

Serving God is meant to be a family affair. As parents, we should set an example by being involved personally in God’s work and also encourage our children to discover their talents and spiritual gifts and utilize them in God’s service. This will trigger a supernatural dimension that brings heaven’s resource to our earthly lives, as it says in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”

In conclusion, we must recognize that Satan certainly is targeting Christian homes and marriages. Scripture warns us that in the end times, “because lawlessness will abound, the love of  many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). Familial affection will be under assault as societal lawlessness increases (See 2 Timothy 3:1-5). In response, we can and we must make our homes a beachhead for God in a hostile world.

We can do so confidently, knowing that “our heritage as servants of the Lord” is that “no weapon formed against us shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17) and that we, through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, have been called to supernatural living in the last days.