“FOR THE LORD DISCIPLINES HIM WHOM HE LOVES…” (HEBREWS 12:6): IN QUEST OF MORAL FORMATION IN CHRISTIAN FAMILIES OF CONTEMPORARY ERA.

Abstract

In recent times, there appears to be a high rate of moral decadence amongst youths in our societies ranging from sexual abuse, drug addiction, rape, street and school cultism, lack of respect for elders to mention but a few, which can hardly be disassociated from what goes on in the family. This is because, the family still remains the smallest unit of socialization in any given society. It is where life begins for any given person or individual. Again, the saying remains valid that states that “charity begins at home”. Thus, whatever the family produces, the society receives and experiences its manifestations. However, it would not be an overstatement to opine that modern day families have gone cold in inculcating good morals and disciplines in their children (youths). It is no longer surprising to see students especially of secondary school level, who fight their teachers for scolding or flogging them. Some have even been bold to declare openly, that at home, their parents do not scold or flog them. This is quite appalling and undoubtedly, a new development in our Christian homes because, before this era, it was not so. Family moral formation and discipline have always been held in high esteem and is in fact the first gift any child receives from his or her parents/guardians. This paper, with the tools of exegesis and consultation of other previous written research works attempts what could be termed a ‘wake-up call’ to modern day Christian families on the need for moral discipline and formation in our youths if we must have a society void of moral decadence considering the fact that love revolves around the formation of good morality as seen in the exegetical text.