Guys, It’s Our Turn
No doubt, upon reading this, you thought about the fact that Mother’s Day has already occurred this calendar year and now it is the day for us to remember ‘good ole dad’. True, May 11, 2025, the day set aside for remembering our mothers has come and gone. Also true, this Lord’s Day, June 15, 2025 is designated as “Father’s Day” on our calendars. We are reminded of this continually by retail establishments as each of these days (and all other “holidays”) approach. After all, they have a vested interest in everyone “remembering” every holiday and all the commerce activity that accompanies each one.
However, the ‘turn’ of which I speak is not regarding a holiday, a festive event or a specific date on the calendar. It is the God-given responsibility of each male that has brought a child into the world. Much has been said, and rightly so, about the influence the mother has on her child and often the burden of child rearing and nurturing falls to the female parent. These are those that gave birth to the child. But we should never forget that the woman didn’t produce the child on her own, neither should she bear all the responsibility in bringing up the child in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord. ”. Do we not recall to whom Eph. 6:4 is directed?
This “bringing up” is more than providing the roof over their head, the food on the table, and the clothes on their backs. It entails much more and takes a good part of a lifetime to do it correctly. I’m afraid that some men have often looked to nature and misapplied it regarding their young. Some seem to think and act as though their obligation ends with the producing of the child. If one closely examines nature, they can clearly see that in many species of animals, the male takes a large role in feeding, protecting and providing for their young. God made them this way, and contrary to man, they have not deviated from God’s plan.
Implied in the last statement, is that mankind has often strayed from the plan God had for humanity since before He created all things. So that none misunderstand, let me state it clearly. The evidence is abundant that many have departed from God’s ordained system for fatherhood, family and in many cases, even service to God Himself. This is also pointed out by the Spirit through the pen of Paul in Gal. 4:8, speaking to some who had no written Law of God before the New Testament Law was delivered and put into force. He wrote: Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. The altar to the “UNKNOWN GOD” we read of in Acts 17:23 is another testament to this.
When a man helps produce a child, he helps bring a soul into this world. This is an awesome responsibility as each soul will spend eternity in one of two places. One is a place of peace and joy, the other of torment and agony, and both are forever. Once the soul leaves the body, there is no opportunity for change. Therefore, while in this life the foundation must be provided for that soul early, so it can choose where it will spend eternity. If the right foundation is not placed, the “house” will fall, just as Christ described in Matt. 7:26-27. This is what bringing up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord means, bringing them up on the foundation of the Word of God. Of course, upon becoming grown, each must make their own choices. And then, as “accountable” souls, they must also deal with the consequences of the choices they make.
The same is true of fathers. The bringing up of children is to begin in the home. The home is a divinely ordained institute and children become part of the home when they are born. But man’s obligation to God and family also extends beyond the home. Three times in the New Testament we find “be strong”. They are: 1Cor. 16:13, Eph. 6:10, and 2Tim. 2:1. Each of these were written to Christians. In the latter, it was written to an individual. This admonition to “be strong” is “in the Lord ”, or “in the grace that is in Christ”. One of these also says to “stand fast in the faith and quit you like men”. This applies to every aspect of the Christian’s life.
God has placed man in the position to lead the family as well as to take the lead in service to God. This is readily apparent when the qualifications of elders in epistle to Titus, and of elders and deacons in the first epistle to Timothy are considered. It is man that is to be the earthly leadership of the body of Christ. It is the man that bears the responsibility if/when the truth is not faithfully proclaimed. It is the man’s fault if they fail or refuse to “grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”, making themselves unqualified to serve as deacons or elders.
If you are a man, and have obeyed the gospel, you are a Christian, a child of God. That means it’s past time to step up to your responsibility to God and to your family. Make your family stronger by leading them according to God’s Word. Guys, it’s our turn. It’s our turn to put forth every effort to make our congregation better in attendance, adherence to the Word, and a shining example for all as Jesus said in Matt. 5:16. Guys, it’s our time to “glorify our Father which is in Heaven”.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
