Most of the time when people see or hear the word FATHER, the usually have the image of a husband and wife with their children next to them. We usually have the stereotypical image that most Americans have grown up seeing on television and grew up expecting. In reality, there are many types of fathers out there in the world beside a daddy. Do not get me wrong, none of us would be here if it were not for our moms and dads. I am grateful for my mom and dad too.
On Merriam-Webster's online open dictionary, FATHER is defined as follows:
1: a: a man who has begotten a child; also: sire b: capitalized: GOD, the first person of the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit)
2: forefather: a person of an earlier period and common heritage
3 a: one related to another in a way suggesting that of father to child b: an old man —used as a respectful form of address
4 often capitalized: a pre-Scholastic Christian writer accepted by the church as an authoritative witness to its teaching and practice —called also church father
5 a: one that originates or institutes <the father of modern science> b: source <the sun, the father of warmth and light — Lena M. Whitney> c: prototype
6: a priest of the regular clergy; broadly: priest —used especially as a title
7: one of the leading men (as of a city) —usually used in plural
Even Merriam-Webster's lists the first definition of father a male that helped to give life to a child and then it also defines FATHER as the first part of the Trinity. God, whom brought life to all things on Earth; includes all the plants, animals, insects, and yes even you and me as well, is truly our ultimate father. We (all men) need to set our standards as being a father to those of being like God. We need to know when to let things go so that children can learn on their own, but we also must know when to hold our children back for their own safety. Fathers also need to push their children so that they can and will reach their peak potential. We, as fathers, do this every day in the ways we react to daily situations, respond to the unforeseen, and by the love we share and give to those around us. The Holy Word is a great tool that all fathers should use as a starting point when raising children. With that in mind, we do not have to be a biological father to raise children.
As some of the other definitions of father show, any male can be some kind of father to others including babies, children, teens, and adults. We as Christians often call the pastor, or leader of a church or congregation FATHER. In many ways they are fulfilling the part of being a father or leader of a family. These men are responsible for leading and guiding those under them in a spiritual and often Christian way. Associate pastors, elders, deacons, teachers, and so on, as long as they are males, can and often also act as fathers too. These men of the church also help in guiding and raising the members in their congregations. The role as father in the religious role is to help grow people in the spiritual sense, but it is not restricted to just that role. Men of the church also set examples for those younger than them by the way they react to physical needs of members, the spiritual attitude and growth, and the emotional attitudes shown daily. How can we expect children to keep an interest in Christ if the leaders they look up to for guidance are unwilling to show the same? This means that we need to be showing people the importance of prayer, the benefits of being in church, dim instating how trying to be more Christ-like benefits all mankind, and how the Holy Bible will grant greater knowledge and understanding of how we can help those around us. Being a father no matter the definition is a great responsibility, but it is also a great reward, especially when you see someone that you have been nourishing and guiding in their young life (physically or spiritually) grow, ask questions, and finally realize that they are willing to accept God as their savior and ultimate FATHER for the rest of their life. This is the challenge to all the men out there, you need to step up, start being accountable for what you do, raise those under you in a Christ-like manner, and be a FATHER today to someone.
BIBLE BYTE: The Ten Commandments are the best set of rules that all fathers, mothers, children, and everybody else can start off with. They lay out the foundation for all other rules and laws that man is to fallow whether we are a father or not. Take them to heart, and you will raise some truly amazing children and Christians some day.
Exodus 20:1-17: Then God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." You shall have no other gods before Me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing loving-kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. "You shall not murder. "You shall not commit adultery. "You shall not steal. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.r...
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
