Fatherhood

TITLE: FATHERHOOD

SCRIPTURE: MALACHI 4:4-6 / ST. LUKE 1:17

Fatherhood is the foundation of the heart and love of God. And that is what is missing from this generation. All the insurmountable problems we are facing as a nation today go back to the home, which is the greatest centralized force in any society.

• Lack of strong, fatherly leadership in the home is the precursor to a nation's demise

• Thank God for all the mothers who have done it successfully on their own, but that never was heaven's design

Over the past few years I have noticed a trend in which single mothers are wishing other single mothers -- A HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. And while it is your right to do so, no one can argue that. This trend is a trend that on a very subtle level we need to be mindful of. With that being said, with as much as Mothers hold it down on their own -- you are still not your child's father. You are Mothers to your child or children.

• No doubt, your role is vital

• You are the nucleus of your family

• No one can argue that

• No doubt, you go to bat for your children day in and day out -- no one can argue that either

• No doubt, you've got to make a dollar out of 15 cents, especially if your child's father is not doing right by his child -- no one can argue that either

But what can be argued from a clinical and epidemiological point of view is the irreparable damage that is done when we undercut the role that a father plays in his child’s life -- even when he is not present, even when he is not doing all that he can to help his children thrive. Do not misunderstand the point being made, the mothers who have the difficult task of managing the lives of their children alone should be honored and respected but according to the definition a woman simply cannot be a father.

• A child needs both parents

• But the roles these parents occupy are unique and equally invaluable

• Even within the current culture that appreciates and encourages same-sex parents - don’t get it twisted -- there will either be two dads or two moms

On this third Sunday of June that has been designated as Father’s Day – I want to challenge men to return to the word of God. This Old and New Testament text says -- HE WILL TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO THE CHILDREN. Let’s examine this for a few minutes. The book of Malachi closes out the OT followed by approximately 400 silent years and then the NT opens. Isn’t it interesting the final word in the OT is a pointed and specific focus on the relationships between fathers and children? Of all the things that Malachi could have told us as this OT closes, he chooses to make reference to the preaching of the future "ELIJAH," - he chooses to tell us in VS. 6 that "HE WILL TURN THE HEARTS OF FATHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN AND THE HEARTS OF CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERS, LEST I COME AND SMITE THE LAND WITH A CURSE."

The OT ends in a rather unusual way, with an abrupt prophetic promise and warning. In one sense the verses act as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, which is to be expected. But of all the ways to end the Old Testament I would not have expected a description of Elijah the prophet's ministry to be "AND HE WILL TURN OF THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN AND THE HEARTS OF CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERS."

• To this description is attached the terrible consequences of the failure of hearts to turn — "LEST I COME AND SMITE THE LAND WITH A CURSE"

• To be perfectly frank with you, I believe this is the condition of our nation today

We find this same challenge in the NT as we have read in ST. LUKE 1:17. Since it is repeated in the NT, it must be significant, it must be important for us to understand the message. Here we are in the year 2019 and I am not convinced we have taken these words and warning to heart. There is still a disconnect between Fathers and their Children, especially between Father’s and their Son’s. A survey some years ago revealed that –

• 98 percent of imprisoned men have contact with their mothers

• While only 2 percent have contact with their fathers

Why such a disparity? Isn't it because men are more prone to be Hard-Hearted? Now Sisters, I did not say “Hard Headed” I said Hard-Hearted. There is an increased risk of their hard-heartedness producing an irreparable and damaged father-son relationship?