Theology for Everybody: Romansنموونە

Paul mentions a family who loves and serves Jesus and is led by a father named Aristobulus. Now, we live in a world that is doing everything possible to remove men from children and families. There is a wholesale effort to eradicate masculinity and to replace fathers with governments, which never works. It leads to school brainwashing, addiction, abuse, confusion, grief, and dependency. God’s answer has always been when a child comes into the world, they should be raised by a mother and a father. Please hear my heart—I am not saying single-parent homes are second-class or anything of the sort. But the statistics show that the father is the leader of the family, whether we believe it or not. Paul honors this father who leads his family.

In 1994, the Swiss government conducted a study titled “The Demographic Characteristics of the Linguistic and Religious Groups in Switzerland.” The results showed, “It is the religious practice of the father of the family that, above all, determines the future attendance at or absence from church of the children.” In families where the mother regularly attends church, but the father does not attend at all, only 2 percent of children will become churchgoers. Now, I do not share these results to discourage any women. My mom knew the Lord. She prayed for me and modeled faith, and I am here today in large part because of her Spirit-filled ministry and testimony. I am happy to report that my dad now knows and loves Jesus, but that was not the case when I was growing up.

Conversely, in families where the father regularly attends, regardless of the mother’s participation, approximately 66-75 percent of children will become churchgoers. This is why there is a war to keep men from Bible reading, worship, church, and prayer. The enemy knows if he can isolate the men, he can assassinate the family.

When God created the world, He divinely designed fathers to provide leadership. This design cannot be altered or overcome—I don’t care what critical theory says. Men are significant, whether for good or evil. If they are filled with the Spirit, then they are significant to bless their families for generations. If they are filled with the flesh or the demonic, then they can curse their families for generations. Paul honors a man whose entire family is loving and serving the Lord. That’s my hope for every family in the body of Christ.

Today’s Reflection

Do you know a Spirit-filled father who leads his family? How can you honor him?