Fatherhood is a significant role for the development of a child. He is not only useful in the process of reproduction, but in the forging of character of each child by the male influence in his or her life. In order to stop the child from becoming aimless and out of control, the offspring must be launched from a platform of stability. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, 85% of children in society today exhibiting behavior disorders come from fatherless homes. Moreover, 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions, and boys with confused gender identities are from fatherless environments. Without the protective role of a father, an entire generation of insecure children will grow up into insecure adults. Their fears will be expressed through both extreme passivity and aggressive violence, lacking the necessary balance of emotions for self-control.
The role of fatherhood is not innately known by men with children. If the son looks to how he was raised, the past model is duplicated while leaving a marred image of the original for the next generation to follow. Is it possible to understand what fatherhood was meant to be? One must reference the Father of fathers in order to get a glimpse of His intentions for allowing men the privilege to impart wisdom to our sons and daughters. In Ephesians chapter 3 verses 14 and 15, the Apostle Paul states, “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. To bow the knee is to give humble reverence in worship to the One who is established as the Authority.
If He is the Authority on the subject of fatherhood, I must then dispense of any notion previously referenced in order to fully accept His example as the only one to be followed. It is His relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ that displays His perfection as a Father. As He loved His only Begotten Son, I must love my sons and daughters. Though it is impossible for me to do alone, I must accept the love offered through the Son of God in order to enter into a preexisting relationship. He loves me through His Son when I accept the life of His Son.
Fathers are the ones who must seek to find this resolution for their families. Often times, women provide the greater amount of spiritual nurturing for the homes rather than men and fathers. However, it is the responsibility of the man to guard the family from erroneous doctrines and to lead them on the pathway of truth. Although the wrong example may project a false macho image, it perpetuates the sins of the fathers to succeeding generations. Falseness and pretense are corroding the moral fiber of this nation, producing only false hope and vain imaginations. There is a need for fathers today who are concerned about the future of not only their children, but the generations that precede them.
When fathers begin to think generationally, they will ponder the effect of actions today as building blocks and stepping stones for the future. The careless will place weights and dig traps for the demise of their children. “I bow my knees that “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph 3:16-19) Then the Father would so use us as earthly fathers to instill within our children that which will last forever.