“Conscious Co-parenting”?

Many people use this term to refer to divorced parents choosing to work together to raise their kids without the animosity divorce often brings. But there’s another growing use for this term: two people who aren’t, and have never been, married, who aren’t even in a “relationship” (beyond, perhaps, friendship), choosing to have children and raise those children together.

Here’s one example from a recent news item. Van Jones, a broadcast journalist, announced the birth of his third child with his “friend Noemi”:

After the COVID lockdown, I got clear that I wanted another kid. I discovered that my friend Noemi also wanted a baby. So we decided to join forces and become conscious co-parents . . . It's a concept that I hope more people will explore and consider.

Family isn’t a human invention that we can just reinvent as we see fit, to fulfill whatever desires (even good desires, like wanting a child) that we have.

Should more people who aren’t married but want kids “explore and consider” this new parenting style? No! You see, family isn’t a human invention that we can just reinvent as we see fit, to fulfill whatever desires (even good desires, like wanting a child) that we have.

God created the family when he created marriage and told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:27–28, 2:24). And God’s design for the family is clear: one man (a male!) and one woman (a female!) who have “become one flesh” through the covenant of marriage, a lifelong union, and their children. That’s God’s definition of the family, and it isn’t just arbitrary to be rearranged and discarded according to human whims. And God gives specific roles to the father and mother.

Now, we live in a sin-cursed and fallen world where divorce and parent-lessness are a sad reality for various reasons. But that reflects the brokenness of our world, not God’s original “very good” design.

And science confirms that God’s design is what is best for kids! Children don’t thrive under just any family structure, as long as they are “loved.” Study after study (here’s just one example) confirms that there’s nothing better for children than living in the home of their biological father and mother, who are married to each other. That’s the very best family design—because the all-knowing Creator designed family to function that way! Granted, in this fallen world, there are situations where this is not possible, but adoption into a stable Christian home where there is a committed mother and father, for example, is a godly option that also reminds us of God’s loving adoption of us into his family.

Reminder to Pray for Ukraine

We lit the Ark Encounter in blue and yellow as a reminder to pray for the people of Ukraine and pray for the church in that country because of the sad situation there. Also, pray for Russia and its leadership, that God will intercede with them.

This is from my brother Stephen, who is a pastor of a local church in Cincinnati:

Sent this to our elders just a few minutes ago. 'I have a dear friend, Eric Mock, who is the VP for the Slavic Gospel Association and is working tirelessly right now in the current situation.

I was able to get in touch with him today to find out what is happening and what help is needed there for the church both in Ukraine and Russia.

The SGA has positioned funds and other help carefully and have been relocating resources to ensure that families on the ground are getting as much assistance as possible. I have travelled to Russia with Eric a few times and I love what the SGA does and especially Eric’s Christ-focused heart for the church in these countries. There are already reports of much hardship and deaths from shells and SGA is one of the best ministries on the ground helping people and especially within churches during this time.

You can learn more about SGA, the nature and scope of the crisis, and give today on their website. And be reminded to pray for organizations like the Slavic Gospel Association that are working hard to help people in Ukraine.

Get More Answers on Answers News

This item was discussed today on Answers News with cohosts Patricia Engler, Rob Webb, and Bryan Osborne. Answers News is our twice-weekly news program filmed live before a studio audience and broadcast on my Facebook page and the Answers in Genesis Facebook page. We also covered the following topics:

• Scientists discover largest comet ever.
• Have we finally discovered how life came to earth?
• Do you have an “inner chimp”?
• And more!

Be sure to join us each Monday and Wednesday at 2 p.m. (ET) on my Facebook page or the Answers in Genesis Facebook page for Answers News. You won’t want to miss this unique news program that gives science and culture news from a distinctly biblical and Christian perspective.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.