As we explore the nature of our culture and the current social construct, it is important to take a step back and evaluate where we’ve come from. As they proverbially say, “when did the rain start beating us?”
Lawlessness is Not of God
The institution of fatherhood has been under attack since the beginning of time but as we look into the last 60 years, we notice an acceleration in attack coupled with a diminishing stature of fathers in our society.
The Civil Rights movement gave way to much needed social corrections. Segregation and Jim Crow was an untenable social construct. It is not in God’s heart to maintain a separated society between those He calls His children. In the wake of an integrated society, we were faced with new challenges emanating from several different factors. I will explore a few;
The Feminist Movement
While women’s rights had been trampled on for years and some corrections needed to be made, this movement is not what it was intended to be. It has morphed into a political, anti masculinity cause that ultimately intends to make the male subservient to the female. This is not seeking equality. It is seeking superiority.
True feminism demands love and respect of the woman as a co-heir in the Kingdom of God while giving honor and respect to the man as their equal co-heir. God did not make man to be better than woman and nowhere does the bible say that. He simply established order by making man the head of the home. In His divine wisdom, He made men and women co-dependent on each other.
Weak Nuclear Family
As the nuclear family has been weakened by several factors, we have seen an erosion of fatherhood. Removing fathers from homes does a lot of harm to the family and the society at large. Manhood has been labeled ‘toxic’ and masculinity is demonized.
Fathers who shape and discipline their children are seen as authoritarian and abusive. I do understand there’s abuse and it must be condemned and repudiated. What we need to promote is biblical fatherhood that creates identity and shapes the hearts and character of children. Without it, culture continues to erode.
Erosion of Moral Values
We have been fed a prosperity gospel that condemns poverty of the pocket and condones poverty of morals.
The breakdown in society has been largely a result of the growth of a liberal culture while the church was focused on prosperity. While the church of the last 30 years has focused on prosperity, our homes have been eroded and bankrupted of any moral values. We are what we eat, after all. We have been fed a prosperity gospel that condemns poverty of the pocket and condones poverty of morals.
Culture has become relative to what you want it to be. A few Christian groups have worked hard to maintain the structure of the nuclear family but overall the mainstream church message has allowed the erosion of moral values in all areas of society. From the hippie movement in the 60s and 70s to the independent spirit of the 80s and 90s and the all out humanist spirit of the 2000s, we have quickly progressed into a culture with no moral compass. What do you expect kids to do?
The Solution
I believe a movement promoting responsible Godly fatherhood can change a culture within one generation.
Godly fathers are by design shapers of culture. Fathers need to rise up and take responsibility for what we have on our hands. We then need to confront culture and society to bring a shift in how society works.
We can do better. Fathers out there need to be applauded and those who need encouragement need to have their hands lifted up like Aaron and Hur did for Moses. We need to establish systems that encourage Godly fatherhood. Our children deserve it.
I believe a movement promoting responsible Godly fatherhood can change a culture within one generation. I have seen the evidence in people who had no fathers rising up to become great fathers and their children never knowing what the past represented. It took a connection to Father God.
Fathers Matter! Let’s make this point known.
Nelson Masinde 