I have only seen two of the Duggar’s specials. I was impressed.

It seems that they are a family trying to live by Biblical principles. As I watched the shows on courtship, I felt they had left the decision up to their kids. The son chose himself that he wanted to court the girl he liked. What a blessing!

My daughter, who is not actually in favor of courtship, was also impressed. She thought they seemed very happy with the way they did things.

I don’t feel there should be any hostility toward a family that chooses to have a lot of kids, or chooses to homeschool, or whatever…..

The Duggar Family is an AWESOME example of people who exude the love of Christ in their lives.

I am *thrilled* with their “Courting 101″, as I am calling it. I am having the girlies watch it anytime it airs so that can soak it all in because we are in total agreement with them.

(((Traci))) Have a wonderful Tuesday!!

Thanks for your comment Laurie. We did do courtship with one of my daughters, but not with my oldest two children. So I’ve had experience on both sides of that.

Hi Robin!!! I like the “Courtship 101″ LOL It was fun to watch the other Duggar children also watching and learning from Josh’s courtship process too. Say hey to your girlies for me.

I just loved what you had to say! I love this family, they are awesome. I appreciate it when I read positive things. Well written!

Amen, sister! We love the shows here!

Great post. I seem to walk to a different drumbeat than most folks around me. You are correct that many people become defensive when they see anything different from their own lives. Personally, I believe this mindset explains the dying condition of so many Christian churches.

Biblical principles can be displayed and walked out in a multitude of differnt ways. Oh, I pray for us all to get real and get a life in Him!!!

People tend to criticize what they don’t understand and attack when confronted with different ideas.

What a shame that other believers join in the attack.

I find the Duggars to be a refreshing choice in a very liberal TV lineup!

God bless ‘em! It has to be hard to be salt and light in such a public arena!

i think its wonderful that the duggers are so organized and family oriented but arent they a little sheltered from the real world? with school,work and the everyday life. kids need to learn to be individuals? i think its important for kids to learn to find themselves.

Thanks for your comments everyone.

Pam – have you watched the Duggar show, more importantly watched a few of them? If so you will see that each child has a voice – as they talk specifically to them and ask them questions or comments. When interviewed the children are relaxed and well spoken, giving their thoughts & opinions without being stuffy or ’scared’ looking, as I’ve heard others online suggest.

Are you a homeschooling family Pam? If not, then you may not understand some of the dynamics of homeschooling families, and why many families homeschool. We often come under fire for the whole ‘lack of socialization’ thing; but most homeschool children are better socialized overall than many of their public school peers.

The Duggar’s have done several shows and specials over the years showing them as they are on vacation or traveling, and of course, going to their many interviews and homeschooling conventions where they speak.

Without a doubt, the Duggar’s are fascinating, but in the end, they are just a family: not perfect, but doing the best they can – and I would dare to say better than many families a fraction of their size.

I loved your post. I agree that people tend to disparage those things they don’t understand. I find it sad, actually. If they want to have that many kids, go for it. As for me, I don’t think I could do it!

Melissa
babyheaton.blogspot.com
DD Mia – from China

It seems to me that many people are very busy accepting dysfunctional situations, making every effort to understand the dynamics that created the dysfunction…and yet… when a truly high functioning, amazingly loving, supportive, high achieving family is shown on TV people react with scorn and ridicule…well, not all people. I for one, and others who know that the living Christ IS able to create such beauty in a family stand in near-awe of the Duggars. What they have allowed God to accomplish in their family…not of their own effort…but by allowing His power to truly transform their lives…is nothing less than glorious inspiration to those of us who struggle to allow God full control of all of our lives. I pray that we would allow their example to help us follow Jesus as faithfully…it is about so much more than the number of children….its about the quality of their life, not the quantity!

You have overlooked a very important group with similar values. Chasidic and many Orthodox Jews also believe in living by the Bible – albeit the old testament – and saving sex for marriage (even to the point of not touching at all until marriage), as well as having large families. I’m very thankful that the Duggars are on TV. Their values are the same as mine even though I am Jewish and they are Christian. We are more alike than different.

Thank you for your comments Lisa.

i beleive the duggers have a right to raise their family anyway they want. all of us with children would like to keep our kids sheltered from the outside influences. although i donn’t agree with their beliefs,i don’t judge them.i am wondering though,what their opinions are about the children’s vaccinations.are they opposed to those?

I have personally met the Bates family a handful of times and used to be in ATIA. They are a wonderful, godly, normal Christian family. I rarely wear jumpers (I do wear skirt/dresses,) but it’s between them and God if that’s what they choose. The oldest daughter who makes their clothes is such a sweetheart! I would far rather a girl look like a modest lady and wear a jumper, than look like many of the so called Christian women of today. I really appreciate how modest they are. They have lovely spirits about them and every time I see them they bring tears to my eyes. What a God blessed family they are. Mr. Bates is such a godly help to his wife too. I’m impressed with how helpful he is whether it’s in church or sitting down for a meal.

The Bates have recently been on the Duggar’s show.

God does not make “cookie cutter Christians”, meaning each christian has to follow the individual path God has laid out for them….It is a personal relationship and we do not always follow closely, sometimes not at all. For some missionaries, they chose to leave behind their one or two children as they felt led by God into deepest darkest jungles to spread the Gospel.
In my case, with my husband suffering illness after illness in our 30 plus yrs of marriage, we felt no kids was best for our situation. I never wanted any anyway, so God had already made someone to be my husband’s life partner.
Joni Eareckson, a vibrant Christian, lives her life in a wheel chair after being crippled in a diving accident as a young woman. God gave her a husband who loves her deeply but they have no children.
Jesus never married nor had children as HE was busy about His Father’s business.
The problem is that sometimes we think that what God wants in our life is what He wants for every other christian, then we mistakenly try to put those ways of living on others as being the only way. Remember, there was only one Moses who led the Israelites out of Egypt, God parted the Red Sea only once, one David who slew Goliath, and one Mary who was visited by the Holy Spirit to become pregnant with Jesus.
I once helped a family much like the Duggars homeschool as they were on their way to 12 kids. The wife said to me all she could ever think of as she was growing up was having babies. I told her all I could ever think of as I was growing up was having horses, which God has blessed me with 3.

I personally know many christian families who have wonderful, stable, happy families, who don’t feel they have to draw attention to themselves. They dress to blend in and are more modest wearing pants. They train all their children, to be able do all tasks in the house, from cooking, to mowing the lawn, to doing laundry. They encourage them to go college or learn a trade such as plumbing or hairdressing. What I’m trying to say is you can be a good Christian and still wear pants, go to public school, and not isolate your family. Rather it’s more important to raise them with your values, but not the attitude that you can’t trust them in the outside world because everything outside of your family and control is inherently evil and dangerous.

Sorry I cant agree with courtship and betrothal. It isnt the answer to todays problems. Sure you dont want them to be teen unwed parents like the Spears or Palins. It does not mean you should keep them in a bubble. The first one who comes along isnt always the best choice. Dating is a true test of one’s faith and commitment to their religion. It lets you grow emotionally and actually can help make a better udnerstanding of what you want in a future mate. I think parents just dont want to deal with teen angst these days. I grew up in the more conservative church of Christ and never once did courting come up or to eschew birth control. TV shouldnt be promtoing these lifestyles when thoudands in the US cant take care of one child. Not everyones family is rosy like the Duggars You are no less of Christian regardless of family size or any kids at all.

I think some people are taking God out of the equation of living for Him.

A Roddy, courtship does not mean that you marry the first person you meet. It means different things for different people. For our family it means no dating at all, getting to know young men in public settings, no flirting or allowing your heart to transfer into “feelings” for a specific person. If you watched the Duggar episode on Josh and Anna then that was a pretty good example of what courtship means to us.

I think the Duggars are a really good example of what living for Christ means. They live their faith, minister to others, give of their time, love and even finances. The world is so busy judging them that they can’t see that if more of us lived like that (and I don’t necessarily mean homescooling, home church) but if more of us lived like that then we would understand Christianity better. We are too in love with the world and not wanting children, not wanting to give of ourselves day after day. American Christianity is such a shameful thing. This includes myself too. I make too many excuses and don’t live out my faith the way I should. People die for Christ in China but in America we put up a fit because church interferes with football. What a shame. Look into your hearts and ask yourself if you are being honest with yourself. Does seeing a family like the Bates or the Duggars convict you? Is that why there is such a fuss about them? Is God using them to convict YOU?