There are elements of child-rearing that
mothers simply cannot accomplish alone. The greatest mother cannot replace a
father. Neither can step-dads, boyfriends, or other males.
This isn’t an assault on mothers. It is
a plea to recognize the critical role God has given fathers.
There was a day when this was broadly
understood. But the popular notion today is that a mother can work a little
harder and be both mom and dad. Or, that another man can step in and do the
job, after the real father has failed to many the mother, divorced her, or
himself been divorced.
That mothers cannot do a father’s job is
in evidence all around us. Child poverty, juvenile crime, an epidemic of
unwed pregnancy, and growing violence against women by young men are just a
few tell-tale signs.
God designed and defined fathers as the
primary providers for their families. This includes physical provision (1
Tim. 5:8). And more importantly, it involves spiritual provision (Eph. 6:4).
A mother can partially provide for these
needs. But not like a father. The leading cause of poverty in the U.S.,
particularly child poverty, is the fatherless home. This is true despite the
fact that more women today work than ever before.
Ask any Christian woman who is a single
mother about the increased difficulty of raising children to be faithful to
the Lord without a father’s help.
Fathers also have a unique ability to
provide identity, character, and competence to their offspring. Without
fathers, children often encounter problems understanding who they are and
what they ought to be like. Fathers provide their children a “name” and all
the expectations that such identity entails. If you don’t understand the
significance of this, talk to a child whose father skipped out and whose
mother wears another man’s name.
Joshua’s words ring out over the
centuries as he publicly identified who he was and where his family would
stand. “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves
this day whom you will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve
the Lord,” he said.
Joshua was providing for his family’s
spiritual welfare. He also was doing something else that fathers are
specially designed for — leadership.
Mothers certainly can lead. There are
plenty of Bible examples. And they are to be obeyed by their children. But
there is an element of family leadership that uniquely belongs to fathers.
Righteous fathers exhibit a foresight, a commitment to the well-being of
their families, and a sense of self-sacrifice that is exhibited in daily
action. It often is demonstrated in doing jobs they don’t enjoy — because
they have a family to support.
While mothers nurture their young
through a compassionate caring for present needs, fathers nurture with a
longer view. Mothers often tend to over-protection, while fathers give
latitude designed to encourage independent living, risk-taking, and the
skills necessary to launch their children as competent adults.
Both roles are critical. But God’s
design of male and female doesn’t provide for one sex assuming both roles.
One of the most critical roles
fathers exercise, that mothers can’t match, is in the assertion of
authority. Whether it is the male’s generally stronger physique, his more
direct and assertive mode of communication, or elements we can’t readily put
our fingers on — fathers can anticipate more responsive obedience than a
mother by herself.
That this is God’s design is
evident from passages like Genesis 18:19. In fact, a wife herself is to be
subject to his authority (Eph. 5:22-24, 33; Col. 3:18).
This sets a physical pattern for a
most critical spiritual lesson. A father on earth has authority (power) and
is to be obeyed. A wife and mother teaches that fact to her children not
just with words but with her own submission. Thus, children are given a
physical demonstration of both authority and submission, foundational
principles that lead to respect of their Heavenly Father’s authority.
Strip family life of a father’s
power and you usually get children without a model for submission to any
sort of authority save their own lusts. Sin and lostness result (1 John
2:15-17).
Fathers usually have the “power” to
provide a type of righteous “man-handling” that every child needs,
particularly in the teenage years.
Many single moms who think they
have been doing pretty good find out differently when their children become
teen-agers. The teenage boy tempted to sass his mother, fears his father’s
wrath. The I4-year-old girl who might convince her mother to let her date a
boy five years older, fears what dad will say — and probably do!
That’s because fathers also bring a
“protective” quality to the family that goes beyond what a mother can
provide. Boys in single-parent homes may rebel against mom, even hit her.
But few will dare strike dad’s wife. Young girls may not know what most
teenage boys are looking for on a date — but dad does and he doesn’t intend
to see his daughter hurt.
Like Noah, the righteous father
protects his family from physical and spiritual harm.
He puts the welfare of his family
ahead of his own and thus paints a human picture of the divine Father.
Through this modeling children learn true character, self-discipline,
deferred gratification, morality, sexual roles, and the means to be parents
themselves.
No super-mom can fill a father’s
shoes!
-(Guardian of Truth XLI: 12 p. 6-7, June 19, 1997)
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Faithful Fathers
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 128
1. World needs genuine
fathers who love God & His word; fathers of faith, fathers with character &
courage to meet the challenges of fatherhood, Eph. 6:4.
2. Fathers should be respected & loved by his children – and worthy of their
respect & love, Eph. 6:1-3 (Prov. 19:26; 30:17).
3. God is our supreme example of fatherhood, 2 Cor. 6:17-18.
a. Progenitor, Jas. 1:18 (Gal. 4:5-7).
b. Provider, Jas. 1:17.
c. Protector, 2 Cor. 1:3 (Matt. 7:11).
I.
FATHERS ARE PROGENITORS.
A.
Fathers Give Life to their Children, Gen. 5:3.
B. Children will be Similar to Fathers, Gen. 5:3 (Jno. 8:39, 44); Eph.
6:4; Prov. 22:6.
II. FATHERS ARE PROVIDERS,
2 Cor. 12:14-15.
A.
Fathers Provide Many Things for Families.
1.
Physical provisions, 1 Tim. 5:8 (Matt. 6:25-33 (1 Ths. 4:11-12).
2. Spiritual provisions, Eph. 6:4; Heb. 11:7
(Isa. 38:19; Prov. 4; Psa. 78:5-8; Prov. 3:11-12).
3. Emotional provisions, Col. 3:21.
4. Example & influence, Matt. 5:16.
III. FATHERS ARE PROTECTORS,
Gen. 45:7-8.
A.
Protect from Physical Harm, Matt. 7:9-10.
B. Protect from Spiritual Danger, 1 Ths. 2:11-12.
IV. A CONTRAST OF TWO FATHERS:
A.
Abraham: A Father God Trusted, Gen. 19:18.
B. Eli: A Father Who Preferred His Sons over God, 1 Sam. 2:22-25, 27-29
(3:13); Matt. 10:37.
Conclusion:
A father’s
joy & reward (3 Jno. 4; Prov. 23:15-16); a father’s responsibility (Eph.
6:4).
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Bible Question Box (June 2006): Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
Scripture Reading:
Mark 3:22-30
Question: Can we review
blasphemy? If all sins including blasphemy are forgiven according to Mark
3:28, why does verse 29 say that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not
be forgiven?
I. WHAT IS THE SIN
OF BLASPHEMY?
Mk. 7:22
A. To Speak Against,
Speak Evil of, Rail Against God. Acts 6:11; Jno. 10:33, 36; Matt. 26:65-66;
Lk. 22:63-65.
B. Punishments for Blasphemy, Lev. 24:11-16 (Exo. 20:7); Heb. 10:29
(26-31).
-Question: Is there an additional punishment? (Never have possibility of
forgiveness? Once lost, always lost?)
II. WHAT IS
BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT?
Mk. 3:29-30 (Matt.
12:31-32; Lk. 12:10)
A. Mark of Messiah:
Presence of the Spirit of God, Isa. 42:1-4 (Matt. 12:15-21; Lk. 4:17-21).
B. Pharisees Rejected the Evidence, & in Their Rejection They Blasphemed
Jesus & the Holy Spirit, Matt. 12:24, 32 (Mk. 3:22).
C. Jesus Demolished Their False Charge, Matt. 12:25-30 (Mk. 3:22-27).
D. The Magnitude of Their Sin of Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit:
Attributed divine work to the devil. (Subject to eternal condemnation)
E. A State of Continual Sin & Continually Rejecting the Holy Spirit’s
Power & Word Produces “Eternal Condemnation,” Mk.3:28-30 (Lk.12:10-12).
III. IS THERE EVER
FORGIVENESS FOR BLASPHEMING THE HOLY SPIRIT?
A. Principles to
Remember, 1 Tim. 1:15; He. 4:2.
B. Forgiveness Forbidden? Rom. 1:16; 10:11-13.
C. Example of a Holy Spirit Blasphemer being Forgiven: Saul of Tarsus, 1
Tim. 1:13.
D. Practicing Sin, Rom. 6:1-2.
E. Repentance & the Nature of Sin (Ro. 6:1-12).
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