2016 | Week of August 8 | #1163
Why does Wisconsin Family Council exist? From time to time, this question percolates to the top of my mind, demanding renewed attention. In this our 30th Anniversary year, it’s been especially persistent.
Why does Wisconsin Family Council exist? First and foremost, we believe God called this work into being. It’s not our work, not our organization; it’s God’s. We exist to bring glory to God through this unique ministry. Our mission of advancing Judeo-Christian principles and values in Wisconsin by strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and religious freedom is predicated on our belief in and understanding of God’s Word, the Bible. Our beliefs about and positions on legislative and cultural issues come from His authoritative, all-sufficient, forever-settled, inspired Word. We don’t wake up each morning wondering what we believe about these foundational matters.
Our vision of healthy Wisconsin families based on God’s principles as revealed in His Word is lofty but worthy and completely consistent with His teachings. This vision is what drives us each day as we consider how we can help build strong marriages and families through our educational and action-oriented efforts in the government, the churches, the media and the culture at large.
God began humankind’s earthly existence with family squarely at the center of His divine plan. He commissioned Adam and Eve, as husband and wife, to subdue the earth and to be fruitful and multiply. Family is God’s heart. We see it from the opening verses in Genesis through the Book of the Revelation as Christ the Bridegroom claims His Bride, the Church. Just read through the genealogies. Family matters to God. And marriage and family are the building blocks for every society. Whether or not people acknowledge this truth, it stands—on the authority of God’s Word and as borne out in history and current experience.
I don’t say this next statement in a braggadocious way; it is simply the truth. In Wisconsin there is no other group that has the well-being of God’s plan for marriage and family at the heart of its mission and vision.
And then there’s the rest of our mission—the sanctity of human life and religious freedom. Human life is God’s crowning creative act, and we alone among His vast creation bear His image. That’s why we work hard to make Wisconsin a place where human life is cherished. Other groups in the state have that as their single issue and focus. We are honored to partner with them in that important work.
As for religious freedom, we believe the Bible teaches that tyranny is wrong, and that we have been blessed by God with a participatory, representative form of government, based on the rule of law as evidenced in and safeguarded by the US Constitution and our state constitutions. We are to be good stewards of this blessing. Both our state and US constitutions clearly protect freedom of religion. Recognized by our founders as “the first freedom,” this freedom enables us to live according to the teachings of our Christian faith, everywhere at all times. In Wisconsin, we are the only organization standing up for and working hard to protect this freedom. We know when religious freedom flourishes, everyone benefits.
We believe all the work we do is ultimately good for everyone. When God’s principles, precepts and commandments are the law of the land, everyone is better off, even if they don’t recognize that or agree with it. God’s ways are for our good and our protection; He’s not a cosmic bully seeking to make life boring or hard.
We believe our work is really all about fulfilling the commandments Christ gave in Matthew 22:39: “love thy neighbor as thyself.” We want and work for what is best for our own families. And if we really love our neighbors as ourselves, we’ll want what is best for them, too. Truly loving someone means meeting the needs of the cherished object—sometimes needs they don’t even know they have–without expecting anything in return. That pretty much sums up why we do what we do. Each day we seek to do this ministry in love, grace, and humility, while standing firmly on the Truth of God’s Word.
We don’t exist to bring about a better America or Wisconsin, although I’m convinced that will happen as we fulfill our mission and vision. It’s not about winning elections or even legislative victories. It’s about loving and honoring God and loving others to promote God’s standards, often in the face of strong resistance from those others we are loving.
As God wills, we will keep on keeping on, loving God and loving people and working to see Wisconsin become a place where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive and life is cherished. We’d love to have you join us.
For Wisconsin Family Council, this is Julaine Appling reminding you the prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed. for lack of knowledge.”
