A Faithful Father For Fathers To Follow
Luke 11:2 ". . . Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."
Ro. 8:15 " . .ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
I John 3:1-3 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."
Have you ever noticed the subtle difference in the promotion and hype surrounding Mothers Day and Fathers Day? Rarely, if ever, will you find politicians running for election on Fatherhood. Often the policies and programmes announced at election time clearly focus upon the things that matter most to mothers. I am sure we all sense some of the reasons why. But is it not sometimes just a bit overdone? The overwhelming importance of mothers and motherhood is an undeniable historical and functional fact. But perhaps we should have another look at the role of fatherhood from a unique Biblical perspective and discuss its importance and application in our churches and culture today.
Motherhood is clearly important in the scriptures. The vital role of such Godly Old Testament women as Deborah, Hannah, Esther and the Marys and Martha of the New Testament is clear. But the role and responsibility of Godly fathers is emphasized throughout all the scriptures. The life story of such patriarchs as Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David and Solomon dominate the Old Testament narrative in a very positive way. If we look to the New Testament for confirmation of this fact, we need to look no further than the apostles and the mighty and courageous men of God they chose to help them in getting out the gospel and teaching and leading the early churches.
You may call Paul, the writers of the Book and true Bible preachers male chauvinists if you wish, but that is just the way it is. Those who label the writers of the New Testament in this way are also attaching the same tag to the God who gave us the scriptures. Attempts by liberal so-called theologians and their ilk to rewrite and revise the scriptures cannot change the importance of the role of fathers in the Word and in our world today. New translations designed to remove so-called gender bias are merely perversions of the pure Word of God. Attempts to reverse the gender roles so clearly and concisely given in the Word of God are clearly blasphemous attacks upon its validity and authenticity.
Since Fathers Day brings a focus upon fatherhood, perhaps it would be good to ask ourselves how do we view fathers? Some of us must look back over many years in order to remember the father of our childhood. Some would perhaps view fathers as stern disciplinarians, standing with the rod of correction in their hands ready to pounce and punish the slightest step off the straight and narrow way. Others might view fathers as the number frequently missing from the family equation. The one who, because of the struggle to make ends meet for the family, seemed to rarely be with the family. Others may view fathers as the money milk cow. The one to whom one would go when finances run low. Much as the father who received an email from his son who was away at university. The message was short and simple: "No mon, no fun, your son." His reply was just as straight and succinct" "Too bad, so sad, your Dad."
I had rather remember fathers like I remember my father. Faithfully leading his family to the house of God and showing his children the way of God and going on to be with God and await them there. This most important thing is to view fathers and fatherhood the way God shows us in His Word.
Since fathers have been given such awesome responsibilities in the family and other God-or- dained institutions in our world and since our heavenly Father is clearly the ultimate example of real Fatherhood, on this Fathers Day let us look at the best example of A FATHER FOR FATHER'S TO FOLLOW.
FATHERS SHOULD FOLLOW OUR FAITHFUL FATHER'S EXAMPLE OF LOVE AND MERCY. God our Father is the ultimate scriptural example of sacrificial love and spirituality. Since He is the Father of all who have been born again spiritually into His family, our Savior taught us to address Him as our Eternal Father when we approach His throne of grace in prayer. Since He is the Father of all who have been redeemed by the blood of His only begotten Son, we are urged to glorify Him by crying out to Him as our dear Father. We are enjoined to marvel at the manner of love this Eternal Father has through His mercy and grace given unto those of us who do not deserve it. It is clear God's eternal purpose for the future is focused upon His Fatherhood. "Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" (Eph. 1:4-5) "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named," (Eph. 3:14-15)
ased upon these scriptural truths, it is easy to see that God's eternal redemptive purpose focuses upon the fact of His eternal Fatherhood. As Peter indicated, in His determinate counsel and foreknowledge He chose to create and redeem unto Himself eternal sons through the redemptive process of the cross. The ultimate working out of His eternal purpose in relation to each and every one of His spiritual offspring also entails the principle of fatherhood and the process of sonship as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are ultimately conformed to His image.
Engineers desiring to produce a particular product may say, "Just tell us what you wish to produce and describe the end product. and I will design a program and a process to produce it." This is a crude illustration, but eternal redemption is our Father's basic program and process in producing eternal sons for His own eternal pleasure and glorification. This process is all inclusive of the whole of the Christian life. We should not be astonished or resentful if we are to required attend the School of Hard Knocks and then enrol in the College of Crisis and later seek a graduate degree from the University of Adversity. Such processes are sometimes the norm in God's plan, program and process in the produc- tion of His eternal sons. (See Heb. 12:6-8, I Peter 4:14-16) If it is true that the clear prime motivation
of our heavenly Father in relation to His family and offspring is love and mercy, then fathers would do well to emulate His example in all their relationships.
FATHERS SHOULD FOLLOW OUR FAITHFUL FATHER'S EXAMPLE OF SELFLESS SERVICE. It is clear that our Father's eternal purpose in relation to His eternal offspring is made effective by His willingness to place into practice His eternal attributes of love, loyalty and selfless sacrifice and service. The catch cry of the age in which we live seems to be, "What's in it for me?" It seems that many of the ills of our culture could be attributed to the egocentric and hedonistic philosophies of materialism, acquisition and self indulgence. It seems that the concept that we serve God by serving others is no longer the underlying theme of Christian service. Or course, the greatest service we can render to others is giving out the glorious gospel of God. The contemporary move to even design praise, wor-
ship and activities in a local church to fit this same philosophy of, "What's in it for me," is symptomatic of the problem. The breakdown of marriage and family is also symptomatic. Many fathers seem to wish to frivolously flee the responsibly of real fatherhood and appear to feel no real sense of a calling to selfless serve their family, church or community.
In such a world, it is important for fathers who would follow the example of their faithful heavenly father to dare to be different no matter how daunting the task. If we who are leaders of the families in this generation do not show the way, how can we expect those to whom we bequeath the Christian heritage of our forefathers to pass the torch of true selfless service to the next generation? If fathers today are not willing to sacrifice and serve how can we expect the treasured standards and values of our great nation to survive?
I am sure many of our hearts were touched as we saw the images of desperate mothers and fathers helplessly standing by as their children were hurt and destroyed in the terrorist attack upon school in Russia a few years ago. These parents were obviously overwrought and were willing to do anything to help their child. Some had to be forcible restrained in order to keep them from facing sure death by charging into the guns of the terrorist. Some did try and died heroically. Perhaps it is time for fathers in free nations to understand that if they do not stand up, speak up and refuse to be shut up, they too may find themselves in such a terrible trauma.
FATHERS SHOULD FOLLOW OUR FAITHFUL FATHER'S EXAMPLE OF PROVISION AND PROTECTION. Our Savior tells us that our heavenly Father is interested and vitally involved in providing the needs of His children and protecting them from harm. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13) He tells us that our gracious Father Who knows the number of hairs on our head is in the business of looking after His offspring.
In spite of dictates of the modern day movements or the requirements of political correctness, God's position on the father's responsibility to provide for and protect his family is abundantly clear. In spite of the all too common tendency of the modern day Christian to accept, adapt and accommodate to the popular philosophies that undermine this mandate, God's instruction on the matter remains as unambiguous and unchanging as the immutable God and His eternal Word. God meant what He said and said what He meant when He commanded, "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (I Tim. 5:8)
This inspired language of Paul is not, as some might wish to think, coloured by culture, related to a certain patriarchal tradition or restricted to a particular period. This principle remains in effect in our day and time. Any father who does not take it seriously, is obviously abdicating his God- given responsibility and is inviting trouble into his home. The Bible does not make mention of a mother's responsibility to be the primary provider for her husband or family. Nor is there any indication of an equality of position or responsibility in this area.
In savage, heathen and pagan tribes, it is not uncommon for women to do the hard labour and men to live in comparative idleness. I have personally observed this phenomenon in such cultures. As is consistently the case, man's attempt to improve upon God's way, is doomed to end in destruction and disaster. Can anyone seriously contend that a return to the way of the heathen and pagan in this area has helped the family and improved our culture and built up our communities? No matter what many may say, the scriptures have not been repealed in relation to these issues. I would ask, just because relativism and postmodernism has permeated our present culture, does this mean the eternal Word of God has changed? Are Paul's words to Titus still true today? "...teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." (Titus 2:4-5) Those who have problems with this, should take it up with God, and not blame the messenger of God.
Some of us can remember the day when a lazy lay about who neglected to provide for his family was looked upon as just that. Has the reversal of roles, in which some so-called men stay at home and care for the children and the mother becomes the primary provider out in the workaday world, really improved the lot of women and built up the institution of the family today? Who would dare to even hint that the family is better off today than in the bygone days of yesteryear?
Our heavenly Father makes it amply clear that earthly fathers have the ultimate responsibility to seek and acquire the spiritual knowledge and maturity to fully equip him to provide for and protect his family in all areas of life. Clearly the spiritual welfare of the family should be a father's primary priority. Of course, such knowledge and maturity must have its genesis in the Word of God. A Christian father cannot live up to his responsibility in this area unless he gets into the Word of God and lets it permeate and rule his life through the illumination and control of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. (See I Cor. 2:14, 6:20, Col. 3:16)
What husband and father worth his salt would not willing lay down his life to protect his wife and family from the onslaught of lawless men or marauding gangs? Would a man be a real man if he refused to provide a circle of protection around his home that would secure it from the intrusion of any and all who would wish to do harm to those dear ones he loves?
But it seems in our materialistic world of acquisition, Christian fathers all too often allow the world to determine what is hurtful and harmful to our families. A world that will cry out loudly against any physical pollution of a pristine natural environment, will turn a blind eye to the most horrendous and destructive pollution of all; the disgusting and destructive moral and spiritual pollution of the collective mind and soul of a nation and a culture. Fathers who would not even entertain the idea of allowing harmful physical pollutants to penetrate and permeate their home and injure their wife and children, will not only permit, but participate in daily exposing their dear ones to the worldly pollution of their minds.
A father's family is a God-given treasure given to him by his heavenly Father to protect and preserve against all the forces of evil that would hurt and destroy. He has a primary responsibility to keep his family from harm's way. But just what is the greatest harm and hurt that might penetrate the family circle? Just what is the most important protection the husband can provide for his family?
Just what will be the most important question asked of a father at the judgment relative to his family responsibilities? Will it relate to the quantity and quality of the food he placed upon his table? Will it entail the fad and fancy of the clothes his family was arrayed in? Will it evolve around the value of the cars he provided for their earthly pleasure? Or the size of the palatial mansion he furnished for their shelter? Or the educational and employment opportunities he gave his children? Or the amount of the physical inheritance he bequeathed them?
The Word of God tells us that none of these will be the criterion by which God will measure the success or failure of a father. The more pertinent questions upon which the judgment of God will be based will be: “What did you provide for your family's spiritual protection and preservation? What did you do to bring your whole household to salvation in Jesus Christ? What spiritual resources did you daily make available to provide for their spiritual growth and maturity? What spiritual example did you set in your own daily living? What effort did you make to ensure your family was reared entirely in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? What did you do to build and grow His church as a place of spiritual refuge, safety and life focus for your family? Just what sacrifices did you make to ensure that a community and national spiritual heritage would be bequeathed to your children and their descendents?”
FATHERS SHOULD FOLLOW OUR FAITHFUL FATHER'S EXAMPLE OF PATIENTLY AND PERSISTENTLY PERSUADING HIS FAMILY OF THE THINGS OF GOD. It is clear that our heavenly Father's primary focus is to provide His offspring with the information and leadership that will enable them not only to know Him and His Son more intimately and completely in eternity, but to enjoy the full and abundant life He has available for them during their sojourn on planet earth. Our heavenly Father patiently and persistently leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake each day of our life.
It is vital that a father first of all be faithful to God and his calling as a Christian father. Someone once asked, "What is more important than for a husband to love his wife and family?'” Someone else replied, "That he love Jesus!" Of course, this is not an either or situation. If a father is to be in a position to effectively persuade his household of the things of God, he must be a living example of the things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report. He is to be ever faithful to his calling as the divinely ordained minister of the oldest church (assembly) in the Bible, the family.
I believe the stories of such heads of households as Joshua were given to husbands and fathers to illustrate the influence for good such Godly and responsible husbands and fathers. Joshua summed it all up when he said to the assembled fathers of Israel, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)
The spiritual leadership duties relative to the family outlined by that great spiritual leader, Moses, in the Old Testament have not been repealed. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates." (Duet. 6:6-9)
In the New Testament we find the stories of Cornelius and the Philippian jailer. If we examine these stories closely one central and overwhelming truth becomes obvious. These men not only made a commendable complete committal to Jesus Christ, but immediately moved to be the instrument God used to bring their entire household to Him in salvation, baptism and acceptable service.. In the cultural context of the time, it is clear this would have normally involved an extended influence reaching far beyond their immediate family.
It could easily be said that the ultimate success for a Christian father could be measured by his success in bringing his offspring to Christ. I'm sure many fathers have patiently prayed the same prayer as they have sought to patiently and persistently persuade their children of the claims of Christ upon their life. In my life it was phrased something like this, "Dear Lord, please allow me to so clearly and consistently present the gospel to my children that they may become accountable before you for their sins, realize their lost condition, but be lost only long enough to repent and trust Christ as their Saviour and Lord and receive Your gift of everlasting life."
It is true that Godly parents do not always see the long term spiritual success of their parenting in the lives of all their children. The will and bad choices of each free moral agent is an obvious factor to be reckoned with. More than a few parents have seen their offspring walk away from the path a Godly father and mother placed their feet upon in earlier years. But I am sure their effort to impart spiritual truth to their offspring will not go unrecognized or unrewarded by their eternal Father
Love for and faithfulness to God has to be the foundation for true love and real fidelity to ones wife. God's Word teaches that marital infidelity, in thought, word, or deed is one of the greatest crimes known to God and man. Perhaps it is because physical adultery within the marriage bond could symbolize spiritual adultery within the bond of Christ to His church. (See Ephesians 5:25) Husbands and fathers who wish to have God's continuing blessings upon their home and family, will live in such a way as to faithfully, patiently and persistently persuade them of the things of God, as they daily live out the way of God before them.
