My Fatherhood, My Father, & Chilean Fathers

I read this weekend Dr. Al Mohler's blog post entitled "Fathers Are Not Fungible - Why Fathers Matter" and the first sentence jumped out at me, when he said, "Father's Day is fast becoming America's most socially awkward holiday. The reason is very simple -- the culture increasingly sees fathers as accessories, not as necessities."

Dr. Mohler goes on in the article (which I would suggest you read as well) to shed some light on a recent study by W. Bradford Wilcox (University of Virginia) that argues that fathers play an essential role in the raising of children.

"Wilcox pointed to four key findings of his research.

1. Children living with their fathers in an intact, married home are almost 50 percent less likely to be sexually abused than children living in a single-parent home.

2. Boys who grow up with their fathers in an intact, married home are 50 percent less likely to end up in prison as young adults than children living in a single-parent or step-family.

3. Girls who grow up apart from their fathers typically experience the onset of puberty at an earlier age and have sex at an earlier age than girls who grow up with their fathers in an intact, married home. They are also three times more likely to become young, unwed mothers.

4. Communities with large numbers of fatherless households are significantly more likely to experience high levels of murder and robbery.

The Christian understanding of the role and importance of fathers is established in the Bible, not in social science. Nevertheless, it is interesting to note the expanding number of credible studies that point, like Bradford Wilcox, to the importance of fathers and to the social and personal costs of marginalizing fatherhood in the culture."
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Justin Taylor also points to Joe Carter's statistical findings about the crucial role of fathers.

They include:
1. Fathers’ religiosity is linked to higher quality of parent-child relationships. (Source)

2. Fathers who regularly attend religious services are more likely to be engaged in one-on-one activities with their children. (Source)

3. Civically active fathers are more likely to participate in youth-related activities. (Source)

4. Fathers’ engagement in their children’s activities was linked to higher academic performance. (Source)

5. Among adolescent boys, those who receive more parenting from their fathers are less likely to exhibit anti-social and delinquent behaviors. (Source)

6. Among adolescent girls, those who have a strong relationship with their fathers are less likely to report experiencing depression. (Source)

7. Close father-adolescent bonds protect against the negative influence of peer drug use. (Source)

8. Adolescent girls who have a close relationship with their fathers are more likely to delay sexual activity. (Source)

9. Adolescent girls whose fathers were present during their childhood are less likely to become pregnant. (Source)

10. Adolescent males who report a close relationship with their fathers are more likely to anticipate having a stable marriage in the future. (Source)
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So on this Father's Day weekend I conclude with the following statements:
-I am thankful to my father, for his example to me in parenting and living the walk of faith.
-I am daily humbled by the weighty responsibility to pass on to my three children a Godly example of a life lived for Christ.
-I am even more conviced that the key to cross cultural church planting and establishment is praying for Chilean fathers. For their salvation, sanctification, and sacrifical service in the local church and in their homes. (Deut. 6 & Ps. 78)