In his book, Come On People, Bill Cosby with co-author Alvin F. Poussaint, emphasizes the importance of family and community as keys for strengthening America. The vision cast is a simple one, that restoration of core family values, a mom and a dad accepting responsibility for raising their children, can help a generation transition from being victims to victors. When the two authors visited several major inner cities to share this vision, the reception was not always warm. There was little political correctness from these veterans of life and in some circles their vision was criticized as an oversimplified response to today's complex problems.
My first exposure to Bill Cosby was in the 1960's with a comic routine he called "Noah!" In Noah's workshop God spoke to him saying, "Noah! I want you to build an ark 300 cubits by 50 cubits by 30 cubits." Noah responded, "Right! ... What's a cubit?" The conversation did not go well and soon you began to hear the rain starting. It was a classic. I find it ironic that some forty years later Mr. Cosby takes what is on his heart to several inner cities and says, "Come On People, family is important!" The response seems to be, "Right! ... What's a family?"
One thing I feel Mr. Cosby has taken very seriously over his career, particularly with the hit sitcom, The Cosby Show, is the importance of family and the need for positive role models.
The Word on FAMILY is: They have treated father and mother lightly within you. The alien they have oppressed in your midst; the fatherless and the widow they have wronged in you. - Ezekiel 22:7.
At the top of the list of detestable practices in Jerusalem was "treating father and mother lightly," or with contempt. It is contrary to God's plan - He set the standard in Genesis 2:24, "...a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh;" He gave the reason in Malachi 2:15, "...And why one? Because He was seeking godly offspring;" and He perpetuated that order with the fifth commandment, Exodus 20:12, "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." The family - husband & wife, father & mother with children, was not to be treated lightly in Jerusalem nor is it to be in society today. God is serious about family.
Prayer guide: Lord, I thank You for the blessing of family. It is an awesome responsibility to be Your representative in the home. Forgive me for selfishness that sometimes abdicates that responsibility to others. My wife and I take the roles of father and mother very seriously and pray for You to strengthen us in our daily example of right relationship with You lived in marriage. Help us prove to be honorable in raising the next generation by Your grace and for Your glory. Amen.
A faithful father prioritizes family and is engaged with Mom in raising a godly generation.
