Family is the basic institutional unit of every society. Family is a Godly spiritual unit, not a socio-economic unit. God is the designer of family, not The Supreme Court. The Supreme Court created a societal mess when they attempted to redefined what God has already eternally defined. Hence, the spiritual meaning of fatherhood is defined by
this scriptural verse: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22: 6). Parents should teach their children decision-making skills instead of constantly watching over them. God is a God of free will choices; not a dictator, and neither should parents become dictatorial. Families consist of statuses and role models. Male children learn how to become a man and father from their fathers as well as other male relatives.
Likewise, the same is true for female children. In the Black community the family system has literally become dysfunctional, because of absentee fathers. Goes the family goes the community. Therefore, we have lost three generations of Black children; especially males to the wiles of the devil in the world, because the combination of teaching and training in the way of the Lord is virtually non-existent.
Mothers are obligated to teach children to love their fathers, because every child knows his/her mother, but a wise child knows his/her father. Hence, a child’s mother is his/her first teacher. The role of fathers is to train children in the way of the Lord, because a father’s role model is God. Fathers must learn how to rule like God rules, justly. Fathers cannot visually perceive God but must recognize God’s presence through the experience of forgiveness for their transgressions. Since all individuals have sinned and come short of the glory of God, The Holy Spirit (Truth) convicts all individuals of their sins. Forgiveness is offered by God through repentance, allowing us to be cleansed and spiritually renewed.
Family breakdown in the Black community is literally off-the-chart, because too many Blacks have attempted to transform that which is ordained of God to function as a spiritual unit into a materialistic unit, resulting in the absolute destruction of Black Family structure. For example, since the 1960’s Black families have been in decline. Today, only (42%) of Black children live-in two parent families, compared to 70% of all other children. Sadly, 48% of all Black children are growing-up in one-parent family environments. Consequently, absentee fathers are doing precisely what the Bible tells fathers not to do: “and ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6: 4). Absentee fathers cannot disciple and train children in the way of the Lord. Parenting in the 21st century can present many challenges.
Parenting takes a lot of Godly love and patience. It is vital that parents always
