Spiritual Corner Our Greatest Need: Christian Fathers!
When our country’s welfare system was being established, a rule was issued that if the father resided with the mother, benefits would be reduced or cut off. It has always been the case that some children were raised in fatherless homes, but the impact that ruling had on our nation is staggering! In 1960 the number of children living in fatherless homes was 5.1 million. Today that number is over 23 million. In our society fatherhood is under siege. It seems that men in general, especially fathers are increasingly viewed as expendable or a part of the problem. People didn’t always have this view. At one time there were TV shows like “Father Knows best”, or characters such as Andy Griffith or Ward Cleaver. Many times current television portrays fathers as bumbling idiots. After the infamous beating of Rodney King which in turn started riots in Los Angeles, then Sen. Patrick Moynihan made this statement: “From the wild Irish slums of the 19th century eastern seaboard, to the riot-torn suburbs of Los Angeles, there is one unmistakable lesson in American history: A community that allows a large number of children to grow up in broken families, especially one in which there is no male authority, that community asks for and gets chaos.” Our society now finds little reason to believe in fatherhood. Much of that sentiment has been brought on not by culture, but the actions of men in general. It’s not at all unusual to hear of fathers abusing their daughters, or being a wife-beater, instead of living according to God’s instruction: “Give honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel.”(1 Pet.3:7) Studies have proven that families with fathers are healthier both mentally and physically. While we as fathers do think it important that the children are well fed, we also must see to it they are fed spiritually. Much respect should go to fathers for the role they play in our lives, especially when they do it well. You cannot have a good society, without good fathers! Writer: Tommy Bennett