Branson: A Family Vision of Victory

This was a presentation by Doug Phillips of Vision Forum.

Doug always packs a lot of information, it's hard to keep up while taking notes. In this presentation he is helping us defend the Biblical family.

2009 will be focused on Charles Darwin, it is his 200th birthday and the 150th year since publishing his book "On the Origin of the Species". It is also the 500th birthday of John Calvin. No two individuals have had greater impact than these two men. Doug spent some time traveling to Scotland to inquire about or spiritual fathers. John Calvin was primarily responsible for influencing a man of influence in Scotland.

Deuteronomy 32:7, "Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you."

The key issue is generational continuity. We are confronted with paganism everywhere, we are in a state of warfare, now. Hebrews 11:7 reminds us of the faith of Noah, every time we take a stand we condemn the world. We fathers must pass on our faith to our children; Jesus commanded Peter to feed his sheep; the first sheep we are given are our children.

The Family Vision of Victory means:

• We must have a passion for our progeny: America is in a population decrease except for #1 Muslims, and #2 Bible-believing, homeschooling, Christian parents
• Return to Biblical manhood and womanhood: we are getting a poor example from tv and Hollywood, we need to look to the Bible for our model.
• Return to the authority and sufficiency of Scripture: Do fish know they are wet? no, likewise people surrounded by our culture do not know they are influenced by evil. Fathers are at home changing diapers, while women are dying in Iraq defending our country; this is upside down!
• Intense Discipeship in preparation for spiritual combat: Nehimiah called families, sons, and daughters. In 1970 40% of households were married couples with children, in 2005 it was only 22%.

In Scottland, there was a great reformation because of a return to the purity and authority of Scripture. There was great courage, vision, and sacrifice.

Quotes to remember:

Culture = Religion externalized - it will be reflected in culture, we can't reform Hollywood.

Our history is that of Christ looking over our fathers!