In Honour Of The Fathers!

As we celebrate Father’s day today, it is very essential for the men to remember the spiritual principles that make a father.

God’s design is for all men is to take their rightful place as spiritual leaders in their families, but unfortunately, many men have abandoned the position of spiritual authority, leaving their spouses to carry all the responsibility.

But what are the spiritual responsibilities of Fathers?

There are broadly three basic spiritual functions of a Father describes in scriptures. These are: Priesthood, Prophet and Kingship.

Whilst it is true that these apply to all believers in the New Testament, we will examine these functions within the context of a family — essentially, dealing with the spiritual functions of a Father in the context of his family.

The Father as a Priest: Exo 12:3,7,13

As a priest, the father represents his family to God. In the passage above, we find the narrative of the inaugural passover, in which we note the specific instructions given: “…they shall each take to them every MAN, a lamb, according to the house of their FATHERS, a lamb for an house.” (vs 3, KJV, emphasis added).

It goes on to tell us what the man is supposed to do with the lamb; basically to ensure that his house is smeared with the blood so as to exempt the house from the judgment of death.

The word of man above is particular for males, for husbands, and the house are ascribed after the fathers, hence it is obvious that the Man of the house was assigned a God-given responsibility in the preservation of his home.

If death was to find expression in the house, the first point of enquiry would be to check if the Father played his part, If he obeyed the command.

This is priesthood. Every man given a responsibility for the things that find expression in his house. Moses will not do it for him. Aaron will not do it. The Elder down the street will not do it. The man of the house ought to do it himself.

The Father as a Prophet: Deu 6: 4-7; 11:18-21

As a prophet, the Father represents God to his family. He doesn’t become God to his family, but rather a representative of God.

In the passages above, we find God commanding Israel, through Moses, that they are to fear the Lord, keep His commands and teach their children to do so.

It’s interesting that in some places He refers to Sons and in other places to children. It is my considerable opinion that, whilst both words in the Hebrew are essentially derived from the same word, there is additional emphasis on the instructing the male child.

Who should do the instructing? Who is responsible for carrying out these commands? We can say the parents. And we will be right to say so.

However, the Apostle Paul, goes on step further. In his epsitle to the church in Ephesus, he says this:

And, ye, Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

So it becomes a bit clearer that whilst both parents are responsible to make God clear in their homes, there is extra responsibility placed upon Fathers to be protagonists. This will become much clearer in the last point.

The Father as a King: 1 Tim 3:4-5, Josh 24:15

As King, the Father rules his family on behalf of God.

I can hear the groans already, I am aware I run the risk of being accused at support misogyny etc However, this is Scripture. In the Life and Character qualifications for being a Bishop, Apostle Paul gives us the pattern of home expected. He says:

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity.

For if a man known not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

The rule there means to stand before, to preside. So the responsibility of a father is to preside over his house on behalf of God who he is representing. And he is to do this well, not haphazardly, not intermittently, not improperly. He is to rule his house, and rule it well.

This is a tremendous responsibility, because scripture gave us a key performance indicator: his children should in subjection with a gravity. This does not mean he is to force or coerce them or be heavy handed.

The word gravity can be replaced with the word ‘probity’, which means adherence to the highest principles and ideals — moral uprightness which manifests in their obedience and respect for him.

The Apostle then goes ahead to paint a picture of how the rulership plays out, for he equates ruling the house to taking care of the church of God.

So he is definitely not suggesting domineering, manipulating, controlling and dictatorial handling of the house, but rather an all-round tending and attending to; a deep interest in affairs directed entirely towards his house. Because if he can’t do that for his own house, he definitely can’t do it for the house of God.

When men renounce their spiritual leadership, they risk undermining the spiritual well-being of their families. They renounce these responsibilities when they are absent or absentee fathers, when they are present but fail to take initiative to lead and carry over along or when they abdicate responsibilities because of ignorance or disinterest.

It’s time for all men, fathers and intending fathers alike, to wake up and take their rightful place as spiritual leaders, which will make them experience true prosperity — not just the financial aspect, but a good name, joy, favour, and blessings in every area of life.

It is also just as important as we celebrate Father’s day to acknowledge the Men; Fathers who have taken these functions and responsibilities seriously and wholeheartedly, and to encourage them to keep at it even in a world hell-bent on exterminating fatherhood and making man in irrelevant effeminate entities with no significance in the grand scheme of things.

Thank you Sirs, and happy Fathers Day. The world is better with fathers like you. ❤️