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Father Am I
By Guest Writer:
Eld. Ernie Cutlip (Assistant Pastor of Abundant Life Christian Temple, Pergamum, GI)
I am a father. I have 8 children. That is a large number for this day and time, I know, but I am proud of all 8 of my children. I am father to Ernest (27), Michael (25), Abigail Hancock (23), Reggie (20), Eric (18), Erica (18), Greg (15), and Miya (12). All of my children have been “A” honor roll students at all levels of education. All of my children have or will attend college. All of my children are saved, attend church, and are active in church. I say all of that not to brag on myself, but to brag on God. I feel that my wife (Renee) and I have raised our children in a manner that was set out by God.
My wife and I live by Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (CEV) Listen, Israel! The LORD our God is the only true God! So love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Memorize his laws and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you're at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning. Write down copies and tie them to your wrists and foreheads to help you obey them. Write these laws on the door frames of your homes and on your town gates. That is how we have raised our children to be productive members of society.
The IDEAL man of God and father is a man who love the Lord and God’s Word with all his heart, soul, and mind as it states in Deuteronomy 6:5. The IDEAL man of God and father would love his wife as Christ loves the Church. He would love his family unconditionally, and he would not be hard on his children, but raise them properly, and teach and instruct them about the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). This is an important scripture because we can tend to be too hard on our children, forgetting that we were once children ourselves, plus disregarding the fact that this world is much worse for our children than it was for us. Being an even-tempered parent is the principle theme of fatherhood, because we can become frustrated with our children and take things out on our children, which is the wrong thing to do. Raise your children properly and you will not need to be harsh on them. An IDEAL father is a just man who walks in integrity and his children are blessed after him (Proverbs 20:7).
The word father is defined as a male parent of offspring. The father-child relationship is a defining factor in the fatherhood role. People who grow up with the involvement of a father tend to fair better in life and in the world. This has been documented in numerous studies. A father is the natural guardian
of his children and his has a duty by spiritual law to teach them (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), correct them (Proverbs 3:11-12), and make provision for them (Proverbs 13:22a).
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A father is not to cultivate negative ideologies of their children with brutality, ruthlessness, or an unreasonable exercise of authority. A father’s conduct towards his child should educate them, encourage them, and admonish them. All of these activities should be done through and by God’s word. Children should not grow up without supervision or without restraint. They should be taught, disciplined, and reproved so that they are taught the Word of God, self-control, and obedience. Teaching children should be done spiritually. The spiritual training of a child is important; at times the most important training your child will receive.
Will you always do your best? No you will not. There are examples in the Bible of fathers who made mistakes. Take Noah (Genesis 5-Gensis 9) for instance, he was chosen by God as a chosen man, but he ended up making a huge mistake with his children. I believe Noah raised his children in the correct manner. If he had not, God would not have chosen him. I believe Noah’s children we excellent children, who knew the Word of God. If they had not been, God would not have chosen Noah. At times, we as fathers, make mistakes. Do not wallow in your mistakes, apologize for them, learn from them, and grow as a father.
A vital role of the father is to teach his son how to treat women and to teach his daughter how men should treat her. This should be done by Biblical standards. Your children should not see you mistreat their mother in any way, shape, or form. They should see a Biblical husband, as stated in Ephesians 5:25, a husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. As a father’s love for their children should be unconditional, their love for their wife should be even greater. A father’s children should see him put his wife first in everything.
The role of the father is a daunting task, but it can be done when it is done in the Biblical way. To be an excellent father, you need to know the Lord as your Savior. This is the first thing a father should teach his children, a love of God.
Be a godly father and your children will be productive. They may stray for awhile, but they will know how they should act, and eventually come back to their senses as the prodigal son did in Luke 15:11-32, “Finally, he came to his senses and said, “My father's workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death! I will go to my father and say to him, `Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of your workers.'“ If a father has raised his child in the manner in which God has laid out, the child will know God and how God works.
The father has many tasks assigned to him: a teacher, a provider, a corrector, a nurturer, and an example. These tasks should not be taken lightly and without thought. They should be done with love and with the heart of God.
Any idiot can produce a child, but it takes a Man of God to raise a child.
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