What is a father?
By Paul Bawden
I typed this question into Google. Here’s what the answer was.
A father is a male parent, a man who has begotten a child, and may be a biological father, adoptive father, or stepfather. The term “father” also extends to metaphorical meanings, like “the father of modern science,” or “the father of the church”. Additionally, “father” can be used as a respectful form of address, like “the city fathers”.
The basic meaning, then, of the word, father, is a male parent who has begotten a child, I add, with his wife, a female, the mother of their child. In a single parent home, where the mother is the overseer and provider, she acts in that sense as a father as well. Thank you, mom, for fulfilling two roles, mother and father. Also, thank you fathers who have adopted a child into your family.
But where did this idea of father originate? The term, father, means the founder and progenitor of a race or people, and this title, father, comes from the biblical God who is called Father and the Creator of us all. This means that the earthly father has the opportunity and privilege to represent the biblical Father to his children, which is quite a thought to say the least.
Now, the culture in which we live, such is not the popular thinking in some circles. For there are those who want to change one’s gender, some like to think of God as a “she,” and some think that a father is not that essential to a family, for a family can be almost anything. In this month of June, so called pride month, the traditional view of family and fatherhood, sad to say, are challenged with a more inclusive view of what a family can look like.
Regardless, of the ideas in our culture about who a father is, the biblical God created both father and mother. Why? Both father and mother are needed in the family. The father in his love brings stability and security to the family, giving his children confidence, causing them to be more compassionate, while he serves as a wonderful role model. The mother brings her love, wisdom, nurture, support and direction. Together father and mother are a team to provide the environment of servant leadership in which their family can thrive.
In this month of June, when dads are honored, the reminder to all dads is that we are needed in our families. It’s easy in the busyness of life to neglect having one’s family as top priority. Determine not to be a renegade dad, so you won’t miss out on building a lasting relationship with your children and bringing encouragement through a positive influence. Statistics show when dad is present in the family, that family will flourish.
So, dad, enjoy your family. I know I did, and now our children are grown enjoying life as the Lord intended. When your children are younger, play with them, attend their activities when they are older. Praise your children, listen to them, pray for them. Provide them loving leadership. Love and serve your wife.
Best of all, provide your family a lasting foundation for their lives based upon the Lord Jesus Christ through faith in Him. I’m grateful to the Lord for my dad, and my father-in-law, both in heaven, who have left an unchanging spiritual legacy for me and my wife to engage in, as they modeled their heavenly Father well. May you, dad, be among that number! Happy Father’s Day!!
Paul Bawden is married and served in the pastoral ministry for 45 years, retiring in 2011. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. in Speech and attended Dallas Theological Seminary, receiving a Master of Theology. He has taken counseling courses at Trinity Evangelical Seminary in Deerfield, Illinois. Paul is a lifetime member of the Evangelical Free Church of America, as well as being a member of Interim Pastor Ministries (IPM), which serves churches during their time of transition in searching for a new pastor. He writes for Union Gospel Press, as well as being a volunteer writer for GotQuestions.org. Paul likes to write, read, bike, and work in the yard. The Bawdens have had the privilege to travel to Mexico and Romania on mission trips and visited various countries in Europe.