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Father’s Day is a day set apart to celebrate fatherhood, recognise the influence of fathers in our homes and society, and foster paternal bonds.
It is also celebrated to honour and commemorate our fathers and forefathers.
It is believed that Father’s Day was first observed on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington, through the efforts of Sonora Smart Dodd, a Christian woman and the daughter of American Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart.
Sonora’s mother died when she was age 16, and she wanted a day that would commemorate and honour fathers like her own, who had raised her and five other children.
Once she began soliciting the idea of an official Father’s Day, she met some opposition and even derision, but she persevered.
In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson made a proclamation for the third Sunday of June to be Father’s Day.
Finally, it was made an official national holiday when President Nixon signed a similar proclamation in 1972.
While God’s Word is silent about any day being set aside specifically to honour fathers, the Bible does recognise a special place of honour for men who were leaders or examples of excellence in certain skills, such as Jabal, who was “the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock” and his brother Jubal, who was “the father of all who play the harp and flute” (Genesis 4:20-21).
Also, when Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, God told him, “I have made you a father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5), clearly indicating fatherhood as a place of honour in his eyes.
Thus, even though the Bible does not mention a Father’s Day, we can clearly see that God does recognise the importance of fathers and even gave them special honour throughout history.
We can follow this theme of fatherhood in the very person of God Himself through countless scriptures (Matthew 5:45; 6:9,32; Romans 1:7; 15:6; 1 Corinthians 8:6).
There are many instances that speak of Jesus Christ, the Son, honouring his Father and honouring the will of his Father (John 17:1 and John 17:5).
The apostle Paul taught that to honour one’s earthly father is not only a commandment but the first commandment that, when obeyed, has a promise of things going well and living long on the earth.
“Honour your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise—that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2-3).
In light of these verses, and many others, it would seem to be perfectly God-honouring to celebrate a day in which fathers, the God-given spiritual head of the family, could and should be honoured. Ultimately, whether or not to celebrate a specific day or holiday is a matter of personal preference. We have the freedom to celebrate and the freedom not to celebrate if we so choose.
What does the Bible say about Christian fathers?
The greatest commandment in Scripture is this: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Going back to verse 2, we read, “So that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.”
Following Deuteronomy 6:5, we read, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (vv. 6-7).
Israelite history reveals that the father was to be diligent in instructing his children in the ways and words of the Lord for their own spiritual development and well-being.
The father who was obedient to the commands of Scripture did just that. This brings us to Proverbs 22:6, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
To “train” indicates the first instruction that a father and mother give to a child for instance his early education. The training is designed to make clear to children the manner of life they are intended for. To commence a child’s early education in this way is of great importance.
Ephesians 6:4 is a summary of instructions to the father, stated in both a negative and positive way.
“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
The negative part of this verse indicates that a father is not to foster negativity in his children by severity, injustice, partiality, or unreasonable exercise of authority.
Harsh, unreasonable conduct towards a child will only serve to nurture evil in the heart.
The word provoke means “to irritate, exasperate, rub the wrong way, or incite.”
This is done by a wrong spirit and wrong methods—severity, unreasonableness, sternness, harshness, cruel demands, needless restrictions, and selfish insistence upon dictatorial authority.
Such provocation will produce adverse reactions, reducing children’s affection, reducing their desire for holiness, and making them feel that they cannot possibly please their parents.
A wise parent seeks to make obedience desirable and attainable by love and gentleness.
The positive part of Ephesians 6:4 is expressed in a comprehensive direction—educate them, bring them up, develop their conduct in all of life by the instruction and admonition of the Lord.
This is the whole process of educating and discipline. The word admonition carries the idea of reminding the child of faults (constructively) and duties (responsibilities).
The Christian father is really an instrument in God’s hand.
The whole process of instruction and discipline must be that which God commands and which he administers, so that his authority should be brought into constant and immediate contact with the mind, heart, and conscience of children.
The human father should never present himself as the ultimate authority to determine truth and duty. It is only by making God the teacher and ruler on whose authority everything is done that the goals of education can best be attained.
Martin Luther said, “Keep an apple beside the rod to give the child when he does well.” Discipline must be exercised with watchful care and constant training with much prayer. Chastening, discipline, and counsel by the Word of God, giving both reproof and encouragement, are at the core of “admonition.” -gotquestions.org
The instruction proceeds from the Lord, is learned in the school of Christian experience, and is administered by the parents—primarily the father, but also, under his direction, the mother.
Christian discipline is needed to enable children to grow up with reverence for God, respect for parental authority, knowledge of Christian standards, and habits of self-control.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
A father’s first responsibility is to acquaint his children with scripture.
The means and methods that fathers may use to teach God’s truth will vary. As the father is faithful in role modelling, what children learn about God will put them in good standing throughout their earthly lives, no matter what they do or where they go.-gotquestions.org
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