Contemporary Issues: Should the Nuclear Family Be Abolished?

“…the dismantling and abolition of the nuclear family are essential if political liberation is to be achieved.” [Trueman, Carl. The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, 235]

In order to understand why this kind of question may arise, we must see the development of thought. In order to do this, I will have to define a few phrases or ideas.

(1) Expressive Individualism

Expressive Individualism is a hallmark of being a modern person. In reference to philosopher Charles Tayler, Trueman defines expressive individualism as this is the way in which “each of us finds our meaning by giving expression to our own feelings and desires. (Trueman, Carl. The Rise & Triumph of the Modern Self. 46)

(2) The Psychologizing of Happiness and Oppression

Italian philosopher Augusto Del Noce observed in 1970 what Carl Trueman as the psychologizing of oppression.

In other words, oppression used to be considered in terms of some kind of work-related abuse or an inability to find a job; but now economic categories of oppression, while still existing, have been overtaken “in the media by discussion of psychologically oppressive actions: the refusal to bake a cake for a gay wedding, for example, does not push the gay couple into starvation or any other form of economic hardship; rather, it offends against their dignity and inflicts psychological harm by refusing to recognize them on their own terms.” [Trueman, Carl. The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, 239].

(3) The Blending of Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud Philosophies

In 1936 Wilhelm Reich published his famous book called The Sexual Revolution. It is in this book where he “articulates the importance of childhood sexuality [Freud] and sexual identity as a political struggle [Marx].”[Trueman, p. 236]

Today, we see the results of this thinking in the need for sex education at a young age for the purpose of providing adolescents with sexual freedom. In addition, there is a sensitivity to the child’s gender identity — meaning, allowing them to develop and determine what gender they are. This combination between the childhood sexual identity and the political arm of education was largely influenced by Wilhelm.

“This is simply because these are the basis for political freedom, as their absence is the basis for political oppression.” [Trueman, p. 236].

(4) The Fight Against Repression (Family & Church)

In Wilhelm’s philosophy, the patriarchal family is the single most important unit where submission and oppression of sexual freedom are taught and modeled. Consequently, if a person will be politically free, then the state must intervene into family matters because the family is potentially the primary opponent of political/sexual codes. [Trueman, 237].

If the family is the source of oppression when a child is young, the church is the factory for oppression as the individual matures into adulthood.

How does the gospel guide our response to this question?

(1) The Creational Mandate is based on the Nuclear Family Unit pre and post Fall

Genesis 1:27–28 KJV 1900

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Genesis 9:1 KJV 1900

1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

(2) Christ confirms God’s original intention regarding marriage and presumably the family unit.

Matthew 19:3–6 KJV 1900

3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

(3) The gospel equips Christians to live according to God-given roles within the Nuclear family

Ephesians 5:18–21 KJV 1900

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Ephesians 5:22,25, 33, 6:1,4

Ephesians 5:22 KJV 1900

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Ephesians 5:25 KJV 1900

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Ephesians 5:33 KJV 1900

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Ephesians 6:1 KJV 1900

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Ephesians 6:4 KJV 1900

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

(4) The gospel does not call everyone to begin a family

I Corinthians 7:7-9

1 Corinthians 7:7–9 KJV 1900

7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. 8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

Conclusion:

Should the nuclear family be abolished?

No:

(1) Because the nuclear family is God’s plan for human flourishing.

(2) Because Jesus confirmed God’s creational intention.

(3) Because the nuclear family in Christ is equipped to live according to God’s social order.

(4) Because God does not call everyone to begin a nuclear family.