ON FATHER'S DAY...LET'S CELEBRATE FATHERS

ON FATHER’S DAY…LET’S CELEBRATE FATHERS

Yesterday, we celebrated FATHER’S DAY.  I was pleased (and somewhat surprised) to read the plethora of Facebook posts celebrating fathers, replete with nostalgic photos, poems and personal statements flowing from heartfelt feelings and relationships.  I also read numerous posts celebrating single mothers, who allegedly ‘served as fathers’ to their children due to the absence of a male father figure.

During our church services, one man reiterated this point of view, celebrating not only men, but the women who have ‘filled in to serve as fathers.’  While I have tremendous appreciation and respect for every woman who has had to go it alone, at the risk of sounding a bit chauvinistic, to all of those celebratory expressions about ‘female fatherhood,’ I say “NONSENSE!”

What intrigues me about these kinds of statements is the simple fact that I have NEVER heard anyone celebrating ‘fathers who filled in’ on Mother’s Day.  Think about it.  On a personal note, I had the responsibility and privilege of caring for my children solely for a period of time, but please know this: I NEVER CONSIDERED  ANYTHING I DID TO HAVE A REMOTE POSSIBILITY OF REPLACING THEIR MOTHER.  As impossible as it is for a man to serve as a mother, it is equally impossible for a woman to be a father.  Indeed, to say that a mother can serve as a father is an oxymoron.

So on Father’s Day, let’s celebrate dedicated and EXEMPLARY fathers – certainly not deadbeat dads, who deserve none of the time, attention, or oxygen of that special day, and not even the single mothers who have given and sacrificed so much. 

Why are fathers so important?  The Biblical record reflects a strategic plan by Satan to systematically undermine and destroy fatherhood.  Our archenemy has never abandoned his plan, and it is in full bloom today.  Please pay attention to the media.  Subtle and not-so-subtle messages continuously serve to erode or degrade male-hood and father-hood.  Think about it. 

When fathers are either absent or negligent in the nurture and care of their children, negative possibilities abound.  From their fathers, young girls not only learn to genuinely give and receive love, to and from a male partner, they also derive their sense of self and security from their fathers.  And, whether positive or negative, they tend to seek partners, consciously or unconsciously, who in some sense resemble their fathers.  Thus, poor father role models unwittingly invite the invasion of devastating potentialities in their daughters’ future life choices.  Likewise, young boys desperately need their fathers’ guidance and mentorship (as practicing male apprentices) so they can learn what it truly means to be a man, a husband, a father, a family leader and a provider. Every boy born on the planet truly needs the resolute and firm hand of discipline that comes from his father.

My own father, the late Bishop Joseph Edison Bass, Sr., was an extraordinary father to ten children.  He was an exceptional human being in every way: focused, committed, diligent, hard-working and loving.  He was a progressive man, with a crystal clear vision of what he should accomplish to foster the growth, development and success of his children.  He consistently motivated us to embrace education and to become life-long learners.

But more than that, our father was an extraordinary role model.  Never ever did Dad spend a night away from home, unless it was attending a church convention with our mother.  Our father never drank alcohol.  He never smoked cigarettes.  He never used drugs.  He never chased women.  He never used profanity.  None of these were ever present in our home environment.  In every sense of the word, Dad was a superb role model.

Dad was also a praying man, and many evenings he would kneel and pray with his family.  As our pastor, he also led us to Christ and he was a master teacher and preacher of the Word of God.  Born in 1904 in rural Georgia, Dad lacked educational opportunity and only acquired a few years of elementary education.  But you would never have known it due to the high quality of his ministry skills, his keen ability to memorize scripture, to elucidate and articulate the Word with an awesome depth of revelation and anointing.  Having an insatiable thirst for ministry knowledge and excellence, Dad read voraciously, studied diligently and became an accomplished Bible scholar and theologian.

Dad established clear boundaries for us, and he was a disciplinarian of the highest order, tolerating no deviation from firm family rules.  But even though he was stern man, our Dad also had an abiding sense of humor, a contagious laugh and a smile that could light up any room.

So often, I miss him – those private breakfast talks we had in his favorite restaurants (at his expense), his ministry advice and admonitions, his humorous stories, even the way he stood with impeccable posture, the way he walked, the unique movements of his arms and shoulders, and yes, even his candid correction when I needed personal realignment.

Thank you, Dad.  Thank you so much.  We will see you in The Rapture. 

Whoever your father is or was, however close or distant your relationship, you must honor him.  It is the first commandment with promise. (Exodus 20:12)  Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed!