Fathers' Day 2016

What is the heart of 'fathering'?

Though Fathers’ Day is a relatively new phenomena without the historical heritage of Mothers’ Day; and though like all these celebration days is a commercial minefield; and though I am conscious it invokes painful memories or realities for some; I think it is a God-given opportunity we need to grasp.  Not for the warm, pleasant feeling of being given/giving gifts but with a resolute focus on God.

God is our Father

349 times across the 27 books of the New Testament God is explicitly called our Father.  Add in references to us as his children or family and we’ve reached a staggering 905 references to God as the perfect, loving, protective Father. He has ‘adopted’ us as his children.  It is a remarkable act of gracious kindness and as any adopted child will tell you – overwhelmingly transformative.  (cf: Romans 8:15, 23 & 9:4; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5).  Through Jesus (our perfect big brother) adoption as one of God's beloved children is open to us all.  Jesus made space for us when he voluntary choose to be forsaken by God so we could be welcome by God.

God is the good Father

There is a risk that we view God through the lens of our human fathers – and for many that is not positive and for none of us is it perfect.  Absent, abusive, distracted.  Or perhaps simply trying hard but imperfect.  The best human fathers are just a glimpse of God the Father.  He is strong and king and presence and directive and patient and....and...and...

God calls us to father like him

If you are a dad, granddad, or father-like to others the main thing you are called to do is image what God the Father is like through your fathering.  Is it tough and tender?  Is it protective and releasing?  Is it strong and gentle?  Is it creative and directive?  Is it generous and restrained?  For those we father (biologically, through fostering or adoption, through influence) – what impression of God are they receiving?  Not perfect but accurate.

God calls us to father the fatherless

‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…’ (James 1:27)

God the loving Father who has adopted us as his children calls us to find ways to father the fatherless.  Formal ways. www.homeforgood.org.uk is a useful place to start thinking about adoption and fostering.  There is also a thousand informal relationships. 

A moment’s reflection means we realise we do not need to be a biological father to do this – single men, men without biological children, men whose children are grown.  We can and we should all be fathers.

What capacity to embrace others into your fathering do you have for those who find themselves fatherless?

Could you foster?  Could you adopt?  How could you father a fatherless one?

*adapted from a earlier post in 2014