•A Holiday Special
•Fatherhood
A Special Day
•Today marks another holiday in our culture
– These are days which we dedicate to remembering something special
– Today is the day we dedicate to remember our fathers
•Fatherhood is something which our broader society as neglected in recent years
– Like motherhood, fatherhood has been taking a beating
–All to often fathers are seen as bumbling fools (Homer Simpsons if you will)
•Like mothers, fathers and fatherhood are in need of defending
– It is not only in need of defending, but also of understanding
–Where can we go to understand the importance of fatherhood?
–Are we to accept the cultures understanding?
A Special Day (2)
•If fatherhood is a social construct, then we would be unable to say anything more about it
– But if it is not, then we should have some evidence of what it looks like outside of our society
– Do the Scriptures provide us information on fatherhood?
– Does it discuss an understanding of fatherhood…not just a social construct, but ingrained within humanity as we are created by God?
– Do the Scriptures say anything?
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
(Ephesians 6:1-4, ESV)
Obedience and Honor
•Children are to obey their parents
– Paul recognizes this as the commandment with a promise that it will go well with you and you may live long in the land
•The promise is that they would have a long and blessed life
– Obedience to our parents clearly has importance to God
– He wants us to honor our parents by obeying them
•That does not mean fathers are to act in anyway they want
– This does not give fathers free reign
•Instead, we are told they are not to provoke their children to anger
– Fathers should refrain from doing this which would cause scorn
– The goal for fatherhood is not to cause anger, but as Paul says, “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
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Discipline and Instruction
•Paul does not say “do not discipline”
– He calls on fathers to bring up their children in the Lord
– The Lord disciplines, and chastens those whom He loves (Proverbs 3:12, Hebrews 12:6)
– The goal is not for us to hate, but to see the difference between right and wrong
– Discipline teaches us when we are wrong so we can be in the right
• It does not end with discipline
– Fathers are to bring up their children in instruction of the Lord
– This means fathers have a responsibility to teach and train children
• What does it require?
– That we should learn more about God
– It will not do for us to be stagnant, but are to continue to grow in our own personal pursuit of knowing God
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Fathers as Theologians
•This means fathers are to be theologians
–Theology comes from two Greek words qeos (Thay-ahs) which means God and logi (Lah-ghee) means study of
– Theology means the study of God
– To be a theologian is one who studies and gains knowledge in knowing God
– It means reading our Bibles and knowing Church history, being willing to teach what we have been taught, and making sure what we know is right
• Not only in the mind or reason which we can train and give understanding
– But by walking with God we can show the way they can relate
– We give an example to our children so they can further understand their own relationship with God as well
• We see a few things, then, from these verses
– Fathers are to be honored
– Fathers are to be disciplinarians
– Fathers are to be theologians
– Fathers are to be in relationship with God
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8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, 9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. (Proverbs 1:8-9)
Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.
(Proverbs 4:1-2)
Fathers as Instructors
•We saw how Paul had the same concept when describing fathers as instructors
•Consider society
– Who teaches?
– The educators are the knowledgeable ones who have all the information
– Parents, are not often seen as instructors
– Providers, yes, but the Scriptures are clear that fatherhood involves teaching
• Fathers are important for our development
– They are the foundations on which knowledge begins
– How they train us will have repercussions for the rest of our lives
– Fathers have a responsibility to make sure they are training their children in the right and good ways of the Lord
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Fathers as Instructors
• In times past it was not uncommon for fathers to instruct their children in catechisms
– We can think of youths who pick up on such depth as bright
– Such catechisms were done with the whole family
• It rests more with the parents than the child
– When parents cease caring about teaching their children…then they will be trained elsewhere
– They had instructed children in wisdom, the Bible, in beautiful texts of Church history
• Many tell me how things have changed in society
– Many children today continue to find their meaning, purpose, and value…in what the culture and educational systems instill in them
– It is imperative for father's to be instructors in the ways of God, otherwise their children will find answers somewhere else
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know shim who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
(I John 2:12-14, ESV)
“Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.”
(I Timothy 5:1-2, ESV)
Spiritual Fathers
•We find hope here
– The first is for those who feel as though they’ve failed being fathers
– It is never to late to be a good father in the Church
– Younger men are in need to see faith persevere
– There are those who are younger who need to be reminded and taught
• You older men are our fathers of the faith
– Our mothers were called to make their shoulders strong for the next generation
– This is no less true for each of you men in this congregation
– Whether these individuals are your biological children or not, because the fact is you are fathers to those of the younger generations within the Church
Spiritual Fathers (2)
•Further hope 1
– Lets say you didn’t have the greatest dad growing up
– Here in the Church, by God’s grace, you will find fathers who will care for you, watch over you, love you, and cherish you, instructing you in the faith
• Further hope 2
– Within the Church there is always redemption
– Here you can learn how to be better not only to biological children, but also your spiritual children
– You can continue to grow, knowing I Christ change is possible
• Further hope 3
– It gives each of us hope knowing we are not alone
– Though we struggle, we see those whom God has kept in His grace
– This should give us peace
Spiritual Fathers (3)
•Further hope 4
– Even if you have no biological children, in the Church you find children aplenty
– You, elder man of the Church, are father figures to each of us
– Even those who have no children become fathers in the Church
– God redeems childlessness in His congregation
– Praise God for this!
Our Great Father
•“Our Father who art in heaven”
– The concept of God being our Father is strong in the Scriptures
– It stems from Christ, it is through Him we are able to pray to our God as our Father
• This has direct ramifications for us
– We are no longer merely created beings, but are God’s children
– This is not the case with all people, but instead for those who are in Christ (see Romans 8)
– There is no love as complete as the love of God the Father for the Son
– This same love is given to us
• Thus, above all in the Church, is our great God, our Father
– We are to reflect Him to our children
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Our Great Father
•We have the greatest teacher
– It is God Himself
– It also means no matter the circumstances we are never fatherless if we are in Christ
•This also reminds us that fatherhood is not something trivial
– It is a reflection of God Himself
– It is no small thing to be a father
– Instead, it is a high calling, a great blessing
– Because of this we should strive to be the best fathers we can for the glory of Christ
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Our Great Father
• We can reflect these things onto our children
– For our young boys who will become familiar with strength, wisdom, knowledge, grace, peace, and love
– Our young girls who will learn to walk in the same ways
– Who will then seek our such men for marriage because they will be familiar to them
– There is no better medicine for our broken world than familiarizing our children with these things
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Fatherhood
•Fatherhood is no easy thing
– It comes with heartaches, with sorrow
– Our hearts break for our children knowing the experiences and the hurts this life can bring
– If that be the case, if our children must face a dark world, then let us continue to shine the light of Christ on them
•My hope is the same as with mother’s day
– That we would remember our fathers
– All those men who have watched over us
– No Christian is without cause of praise for fatherhood
• Today, celebrate fathers
– Pray for them for wisdom
– Encourage them to remain faithful in what God has called of them as fathers
– Honor them in that calling
