Father's Day in the Rearview

A charge to fathers is found in Ephesians chapter 6, verse 4, which says:
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline andinstruction of the Lord.

We have just celebrated Father's Day, and we can reflect on the importance of a father's love.   Love ultimately flows from the heart of our Heavenly Father, who gives each of us as fathers the capacity to reflect Godly character and to effectively teach Biblical principles.  We live in a culture where fatherlessness is quite prevalent, including just over a quarter of households who do not have a father's presence and around one-third of children who do not live with their biological father.   In these times, we have a chance to testify to the presence of our God, "Abba, Father" and to look for ways in which we can relate His love, presence, and principles.

In Psalm 78, we see a passage that underscores the powerful role of fathers, who are charged, among other things, to teach Biblical principles to the next generation:
2 I will open my mouth in a parable ; I will utter dark sayings of old,
3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.
4 We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.

As we look at this year's celebration of Father's Day in the rearview mirror, I think it's important to consider the importance of fathers in our society.   The role of father is unique and ordained by God, and He will use the man who is willing to walk in that role in a powerful way to shape the lives of his children.

On the CourageousDads.com website, there are plenty of helpful resources for us to ponder and practice.   There is a piece from The National Center for Fathering called "Top 10 Facts On Fathering".   The Center has found in a study that 70% of Americans agree that the physical absence of fathers from the home is the most significant family or social problem facing America.

The Center has put together some facts about the impact of fathers, and the scourge of fatherlessness in our culture today.   These are based on the 2010 Census:

There are 67.8 million fathers in America.  There are 74.7 million children under the age of 18.

Almost two-thirds of children - 62.2% - live with their biological mother and father.  That means that around a third - 24.8 million children (33%) live apart from their biological father.

According to the Census data, 20.3 million children, or just over one-fourth of all children in America - 27% - live in a home with no father

The National Fatherhood Initiative says that the presence and involvement of a father is positively associated with a child's well-being, educational attainment, behavioral development, selfesteem and avoidance of high-risk behaviors.   And, children growing up without a father present are more likely to suffer physical, emotional or educational neglect, engage in juvenile delinquency including violent crime, abuse drugs and alcohol, be a teenage mom and live in poverty.

Author S. Michael Craven says that fathers are the primary determinant on a child’s ongoing faith practice.

Fathers have the incredible role to demonstrate to our children the power of the cross and the character of Jesus Christ.   On the Courageous Dads website, Stephen Kendrick of Sherwood Pictures wrote:

Embracing the cross transforms a man from the inside out. Living the cross guides him to die to his fears and self-centeredness and to be more like Christ and walk in courage and truth in this world. (Luke 9:23) Teaching your children about the cross is fundamental to leading your kids to the heart of God and training them to make the most of their lives.

Jesus said it this way, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” Luke 9:23-25 (NAS)

The surrendered dad has the capability to set His priorities properly, to truly love and shape his children, and to point them to Jesus.   We have the tools necessary to bring honor to God in our homes, and in our communities.  

But, we have to be "there" - mentally, emotionally, and spiritually engaged with our kids.   And, as those stirring statistics remind us, there are scores of family that don't even have the physical presence of a father, with dire implications.   Did you see the front page of yesterday's Montgomery Advertiser?    There was an article about the recent spike in homicides in the city of Montgomery.    One contributing factor, I think, was highlighted by a 15-year-old interviewed for the article: “Most of the kids out doing stuff don’t have father figures in their lives...They don’t have anyone there to tell them what’s right and wrong. They need that.”

I'm thankful that churches and church leaders are getting involved in the crime situation in Montgomery.   And, I believe that Christians being sensitive to problematic family situations, especially where there is no father in the home, is a key to helping curb the crime rate in areas across our land.    God has said He would be the father to the fatherless, and I do believe it's up to believers in Christ to relate the heart of God to those who do not know the love of a father.