ON FATHER’S DAY…LET’S CELEBRATE FATHERS
Two days hence, we celebrate FATHER’S DAY. I am
always pleased (and pleasantly surprised) to read the plethora of Facebook
posts celebrating fathers, replete with nostalgic photos, poems and personal
statements flowing from heartfelt feelings and relationships.
Additionally, I read numerous posts celebrating single mothers, who purportedly
‘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 each 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. 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 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 Dad, 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 such 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 lit up our home.
So often, I miss him – those private breakfast talks we had
in his favorite restaurant (at his expense), his ministry advice and
admonitions, his humorous stories, even the way he stood with impeccable
posture, or 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 the
relationship, you must honor him. It is
the first commandment with promise. (Exodus 2:12)
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please
(above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.
Maranatha!
