A Father's Mandate

Written by a young father with a concern for himself directly
Many years ago, in the late 19 century, there was a godly man who saw a need and left the
th
church of his youth.  This must have been a traumatic time in his life, as leaving behind what you are
accustomed to is no small thing.  This breaking away and following a Spirit-led revival must have taken
vision and faith... faith of Abraham or Moses or Noah.  
One of the major reasons for this man’s switchback on his spiritual journey was the lack of child
nurture and training in his old church.  The lack of ‘fathers’ in the Old Way became very apparent and
this man, being led by the Spirit of God, separated himself and his family, as Noah of old must have, and
began his journey. 
Where is the faith of our forefathers today? How important is the guidance and nurturing of young
hearts and minds in our generation?  Where are the Spirit-led visionaries that made up the Early Church,
the Church Through the Ages, and the True Church of God today?  I think the answer to that question is
another question: Where are our children today?
I would like to take a moment and thank my own father for the time he gave his children and for
his willingness to lead and to be there for me, even today.  I appreciate my caring and supportive
Christian peers who are braving the cold and facing the wind and cutting a path through the drifts and the
blowing snow.  It takes men to do this.
It is due to my own weakness and failing in being a father that I have come to believe that child
training is an issue that every generation needs to take to prayer.  The vision I have is that there is a
tendency for the parents of this generation’s children to stand passively to the side as the children forge
their own way.  Where are the fathers who will lead the children?  Who will teach and show the way
through the maze of technology and through the Forest of the Wavering and the Weak?  Who will
provide an example, not just a rule book?  Who will demonstrate in faith, not just warn in fear?  Who will
lead the children Home?
I believe leading our children means showing them the way.  It does not mean to punish them into
the knowledge of the Truth.  It does not mean to harshly scold, to constantly reprimand, or to throw
around empty threats.  It means to get involved, not to sit back and ponder.  Leading usually takes more
effort than quick words.  The only ‘brains’ it needs is the quiet touch of the Holy Spirit.  And the Spirit
might speak to you as you sit back and ponder and pray.  With all the warning on the dangers of
cellphone and internet misuse, will we take our children by the hand and show them how to use this
technology in a simple and guarded way?  Or will we refuse them that opportunity by telling them to stay
away from it and it won’t harm you?  It seems to me that if we recommend that our children do not touch
technology, than technology will reach out and touch them.  If they have a grasp of the Truth, a love for
Jesus, an open communication with their parents, and an understanding of how the devices of technology
work and where the danger lies, than they will be prepared to tell Satan to “get thee hence, I don’t want
that fruit!”  They will become visionaries!
It seems, from my own experience, that the parents of our time seem to be very intent on a few
points: socializing, health, and acquisition.  We spend so much time visiting with friends and family that
evenings at home have all but become extinct.  We spend so much time socializing online with whatever
association we want to google from our ever handy cellphone that we miss our children’s slaps and
screams and homework assignments and little love notes.  We spend so much time on the treadmill, in the
health spas, and researching all the special waters, pills, and other health products that we just are not
available when our child needs some advice on how she should socialize or how she should pray.  And
we as today’s parents are so busy acquiring more money, more goods, newer vehicles, bigger houses, and
nicer clothes that we miss the opportunity to teach our dear children to work and learn responsibility.