Extra-Biblical Confirmation of the Importance of Fathers in Early Years of A Child

Purpose: Today we will continue to see how extra-biblical studies confirm that obedience to God’s Principles of the importance of fathers in the lives of children.

• The importance of father for new born health
• The importance of father for infant development

Our Study’s Biblical Principle: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth..” (Ephesians 6:1-3)

From this passage we see the importance of honoring our father. One of the reasons we honor our fathers is because fathers are so important for a child’s life even in the early years of a child.

Some methodological precaution:

•            Keep in mind Correlation does not always mean causation; yet correlation and patterns are important.
•            Don’t confuse primary motivation for obedience versus getting good side effects

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This Sunday at Church: Encourage Men to Be Biblical Fathers

For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Encourage Men to Be Biblical Fathers.

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Review: What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him by Byron Forrest Yawn

Purchase: Amazon

Originally I was not sure if I wanted to read this book, as I don’t really have daddy issues. But this book turns out to be good not only from the perspective of a son on a father but of a father to their son as well. This book will capture the readers attention: It is witty, biblical and practical. It is interwoven with personal story but not in excess. I am glad I read it. I believe the author is onto something concerning the problem of men with their fathers. He’s also dead-on with the problems of men who blame their dad for everything as an escape from responsibility. I love how the book makes a conscious attempt to be Gospel centered as the solution to various problems from identifying true masculinity (which means being servant like) to sexuality and pornography. He emphasize also gospel driven motives for sanctification rather than “do better” mentality we can so easily slip into. Change and try harder is not good enough and does not go far enough: We need to realize we have sins that we need to God to repent about!
I enjoyed several illustrations from the book that really sinks in deep in making the author’s point: He had a good point about how no responsible fathers would ever teach their children on how to ride a bike for the first time by going on a hill, giving them a few advice concerning their bike lesson and let them go down hill into oncoming traffic. Yet that’s what we do with our sons when it comes to guidance when it comes to the area of sex. A few pat on the back, and the assumption that they will “figure it out,” never mind that the world is teaching them about sex rather than having them be informed Biblicall that sex is serving one another out of love and not selfish gratification.
The other illustration I enjoyed was his reference to ax, how if you only seen horror film your first encounter with an ax would be shaped by the perversion of what that ax is used for. However, ax is not bad in of itself, especially if it’s used for what it’s originally intended for such as chopping up fire wood for the fire place. This is analogous to sex: our culture has preverted it so much that we think it’s bad because our mind is informed by the perversion of the good. It’s important that fathers then inform and provide real guidance of the biblical view of sex–and biblical everything else for that matter. Good book. Recommend this book.

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