Cover and pages have light wear; pages appear to be unmarked. ISBN 9780871231147
The Christian Family by Larry Christenson is a bestselling 1970 evangelical Christian book that outlines the "Divine Order" for household authority, marriage, and child-rearing based on biblical principles. The text teaches that husbands are the heads of their wives and children, and that maintaining this hierarchical structure is essential for a God-honoring family.
The book advocates for corporal punishment (spanking) as a primary, God-ordained method for disciplining disobedient children, arguing that it prevents children from becoming "dictators" in the home. It emphasizes traditional roles, instructing wives to submit to their husbands and husbands to love their wives without being harsh, while reserving leadership roles for men. Christenson connects family obedience to a child’s relationship with Jesus Christ, asserting that a child’s obedience to parents is directly related to their spiritual well-being.
