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Summary
The state of the modern family is an absolute catastrophe, in that, the level of disregard
for the solidarity of marriage is at a historically unprecedented high. This atmosphere of self-
pleasure over responsibility has led to such things as record breaking numbers of broken homes
and the elimination of ethical foundations since, “The human family is also the arena in which
moral understanding is shaped” (Bennett, 2002). The number of cohabitating couples, fatherless
homes, divorced persons, and out-of-wedlock births has skyrocketed out of proportion since the
1960s with no signs of slowing down. Unfortunately, these areas of concern are not individual
issues that can be targeted but are instead compounding symptoms of a continually shattered
concept of family. To give a summarized statistical report; cohabitation increases the likelihood
of divorce twice as high compared to those who marry before living together, one-third of all
births are to unmarried woman with some of the largest cities in the nation boasting a 90% birth
rate to unmarried teens, and fatherlessness contributes to illegitimate boys being more likely to
commit violent or sexual crimes. Needless to say, the destruction of the nuclear family has led to
the suicide of society’s concrete moral compass.
Concrete Response
The one main event that comes to my mind that relates to Bennett’s book is the divorce
of my grandparents. When my dad was growing up, his father left and divorced my grandma.
While this event happened before I was even born, the consequences of said action are still
visibly on display today. On a regular basis, my grandma raises the subject of her divorce every
time my family visits usually followed by the line of “my divorce did blank” or “he did this, this,
and this to me”. Above all else, however, are the stories of absolute poverty and suffering my
father and his brother went through just to survive. As a teenager, my dad had to work multiple
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jobs in conjunction with my grandmother just to have enough money to buy the basic food
groups. From my dad’s prospective, he says that when he worked at McDonalds back in the 80s
he would bring home bags of excess fries and burgers just so they would have something to eat
that night. This poverty mindset of frugality is something that my father still admits to having
and something that I myself recognize as being passed on even though my familial unit is
absolute in Christ. As such, Bennett is absolutely correct when saying this about divorced
families, “Most also suffer financially…” (Bennett, 2002). The financial reality of divorce is
something that has proven to cross generations and continues to weigh on the conscious of those
descendents afflicted by it.
Reflection
Sticking with the extensive subject of divorce, as it is the most applicable subject in my
own life experiences, a major question that arose in my mind from Bennett’s analysis was what
are the generational or spiritual consequences of divorce on families? While he does explain how
fatherless homes can lead to delinquent tendencies in children and references the nature of family
throughout the Bible in earlier chapters, I would have liked to have seen more scriptural tie-ins
on how to heal and break potentially lasting side effects as the one discussed above. Although I
do agree with a majority of the information presented throughout, the area I did have difficulty
believing was Bennett’s prospective of how, “a significant minority of children do suffer serious
lasting problems” (Bennett, 2002). This is primarily because it contradicts the research of Tim
Clinton, Archibald Hart, and George Ohlschlager in their book Caring for People God's Way:
Personal and Emotional Issues, Addictions, Grief, and Trauma. According to this academic
source used for my Christian counseling class a semester prior, “many children 10 to 15 years
after the divorce of their parents continue to battle with resulting unhappiness” (Clinton et al,
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2009). I am more inclined to believe that a significant majority rather than a sizable minority
suffer from lasting emotional trauma. Regardless, Bennett’s work excites me due to it providing
enough substantial information to logical steer people away from the consequences of living a
life void of biblically absolute ethical standards for family development.
Application
As a criminal justice student working towards becoming a game warden, the contents of
Bennett’s book work to improve my personal and professional growth process by changing my
prospective on criminality. Those who engage in criminal behavior are often times a product of
broken homes and it is through recognizing this that I may change my stance on criminals from
threats, to shattered individuals who need firm yet loving guidance to achieve lasting
rehabilitation. In my life specifically, I aim to strengthen my relationship with Jesus Christ as to
be better prepared to lead others out of their situations and destroy the threat of America’s
progressive reality off of their families. Being that both my immediate and extended family has
experienced the consequences of a broken familial unit, I would tie in the truth of scripture with
applicable personal stories to present hope to those unfortunate enough to be enshrouded in the
reality of sin. In short, I will flood my mind with Christ to change my heart and expose others to
the perfect love of God as commanded in John 15:12, “This is my commandment, That ye love
one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12, KJV, 1769/2023).
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References
Bennett, W. J. (2002). The Broken Hearth: Reversing the Moral Collapse of the American
Family [EBook]. Crown.
https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9780385504867/epubcfi/
6/14[%3Bvnd.vst.idref%3Dc02]!/4/2[c02]/20/7:116[e%5E%2C%20%2Cadj
Clinton, T. (2009). Caring for People God's Way [EBook]. HarperCollins Christian.
https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/9781418525545
King James Bible. (2023). King James Bible Online.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-15-12/ (Originally published 1769)
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