11 Reasons we Need Gospel Fathers
In a world where too many of our sons are addicted to pornography before they’re old enough to spell “pornography,” we need fathers who will lead their sons to enjoy the purity of Christ and respect all girls created in God’s image.
In a world where too many of our daughters are experiencing sex outside the blessing of marriage, with nearly 300,000 babies born to US teens in 2013 (cdc.gov), we need fathers who will love their daughters with the love of Christ so that they will not search for a lesser love in the arms of young men.
In a world where a 21-year-old man, motivated by racism, walked into a church last week and murdered 9 of our Christian brothers and sisters, we need fathers who will teach this generation that we are to love all people and all races, for our Savior shows no favoritism, no partiality, and died on the cross in order to redeem all nations.
In a world where 6 million US children are abused every year (childhelp.org), we need fathers who will protect our children, caring for and loving them in a way that guards their hearts, bodies, and mind.
In a world where there are more than 153 million orphans, we need fathers who will provide for their children, disciple their children, open their homes to other children, and teach their kids to open their hearts to the needs of those around us.
In a world where more than 75% of American teenagers (pewinternet.org) are active on Facebook, we need fathers who will instill disciplines of self-control, modesty, and wisdom into our children who are posting countless thoughts and pictures that will leave a life-long digital footprint that cannot be deleted. And in a world where 7 out of 10 teenagers become victims of cyber-bullying (nobullying.com), we need fathers who will lead our children to allow their Facebook posts to be seasoned with grace.
In a world where approximately 2 million American teenagers attempt suicide each year (nami.org), we need fathers who will foster a high value of life, while cultivating peace in place of anxiety, joy in place of depression, and hope in place of despair.
In a world where Rachel Dolezal wants to change her race and Bruce Jenner wants to change his gender, we need fathers who will lead our children to find their identity in Christ.
In a world where nearly a quarter of the next generation have already tried illicit drugs (drugabuse.gov), we need fathers who will weep over these decisions, seek freedom for the addicted, and shepherd our children to find supreme pleasure and their greatest delight in the Lord.
In a world where 78% of American teenagers have cell phones (pewinternet.org), we need fathers who will engage their children, allowing them the joy of personal relationships, teaching them the value of face-to-face conversation, and encouraging them to discover God’s creation outdoors, unplugged from the far-too-accessible distractions of technology.
In a world where our kids learn shame and guilt before they learn forgiveness and grace, we need fathers who will:
-Disciple their children, leading them to follow Jesus Christ.
-Champion relationship more than rules and discipleship more than politeness.
-Not allow their hopes for their children to be based on other people’s expectations of them.
-Make sure their children’s obedience is not boiled down to a list of “rights” and “wrongs.”
-See that they have the freedom to live without “walking on egg shells.”
-Let them know they are loved and there is nothing they could ever do that would change that or hinder our love for them in the least.
-Forgive quickly and freely.
-Ask for forgiveness too.
-Invest in prayers that are less about behavior and more about the heart.
-Not allow their joy to be dependent upon circumstance.
-Show grace because we know grace. Our grace extended is a reflection of the grace received from Jesus Christ our Savior.
Jonathan Williams is the founder of Gospel Family Ministries and the author of Gospel Family: Cultivating Family Discipleship, Family Worship & Family Missions.
