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Father Matters

matter | mater |

a situation under consideration; a topic

something that evokes a specified feeling

something that is the concern of a specified person or agency

[with negative or in questions ] the reason for distress or a problem

be of importance; have significance

(of a person) be important or influential

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Father. All would agree that this is a word that is under an amazing amount of attack andscrutiny in our modern days. In certain situations, the critique is justified. In others it isunfortunate how the title carries with it a level of suspect and disdain. Many of the fathersportrayed in media are intended for a laugh and yet the joke cuts deep in many homes inwhich the father is either absent or disconnected. Did we get this way because of popularmedia or is media simply reflecting what has developed in real life? Perhaps is nature.Perhaps is nurture. Regardless, we got some problems that are not easily fixed but arehaving a profound impact upon this generation and the ones to come.

For years Ive worked with individuals and families in need, and Ive been haunted by thesequestions and concerns. The reason is because so many of the issues facing families arerooted in what I call Father Matters. When one peels away the layers of hurt andunrest, is quite common to find that at the core is a breach with the father. This brokenor misplaced relationship can serve to tear at the fiber of our esteem, erode our ability toconnect, and undermine our capacity to cope.

In my opinion, the fatherrea!y matters.

Interestingly and unfortunately, the image of our earthly father is often superimposed uponthat of our Heavenly Father. The two uniquely go hand in hand. Not only have ourbiological fathers gotten a bad rap but so has our Father God - who lives in heaven. Hedesires an intimate relationship with his children, but often we are unable to get past thevolume of preconceptions or fears. We have heart cries such as: Will you hurt me? Are yougoing to be there? Will you be involved? How much do you love me? Why are you absentand uninterested?

These questions are hurdles of the heart that stand between us and our earthly fathers. Theyoften remain in place for our Heavenly Father to have to jump over as well. This is becauseour relationship with our seen father becomes a mirror of our relationship with ourunseen Father. The mental paradigm is set. The emotional mold has formed and it willtake a work of the heart AND mind to renew and restore us to right relationship. Thejourney of renewal and restoration begins with understanding the distinguishing featuresbetween God ourLORD and God ourFATHER. Our starting point is in Psalm 68.

Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds

his name is the LORD

andrejoice before him.(68:4)

Preeminent Lord

The word preeminent means surpassing all others and very distinguished. He is theLord that is often viewed as out there. He is the one that rides on the clouds and we areto extol and praise him. For the most part, weve got this part down. Is easy to view himin this way because we technically cannotseehim. He is God and he can do whatever he

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wants so we just mind our own business and go on praising him as Lord. Much of ourcurrent worship services are built around the model of God as Lord. We are comfortableworshipping him from a distance. A popular worship song reinforces this: God ofWonder, beyond our galaxy

When he is the Lord that is out there then we dont have to contend with matters of theheart the intimacy issues that float to the surface. Here is where a rub of sorts emerges. Atsome point we have to wrestle with the reality of him also being Father. The next verse ofPsalm 68 speaks to this.

[He is]A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, [he] is God in his holy dwe!ing. God sets thelonely in families(68:5)

Personal FatherNow the Lord who is out there moves into close proximityright here right where weare. He comes to where we are hurting, where we need to be defended and cared for. This isa bit more troublesome for many today because our paradigm of father has been so badlymarred. How do we rectify what is spoken about God in scripture - of being a father to thefatherless, a defender, a caregiver to the lonely- when much of what weve knownhistorically of our earthly fathers does not support that notion? Perhaps you areparticularly sensitive to the pains of the past. Perhaps youve experienced abuse or neglect.Perhaps your fathers image has been tarnished. What do you do now? How do youapproach your heavenly Father with all this accumulated distrust?

My encouragement to you is that you would draw near. Come close to God as Father anddiscover the warmth of his heart. He willnot hurt you. Perhaps youve seen the work ofhis hands from afar. Youve seen the work of his hand and know him to be Lord of all continue to extol, praise and rejoice in him. But now add to your praise a personalconnection with who he is as Father feel the warmth of his heart. Whether or not youvebeen let down by your earthly father, I believe youll find what so many have found to betrue: God is good. God as Lord and God as Father. LordandFather. Both matter. One ispreeminent way out there. The other is personal right here.

Thas the Lord we praise. Thas the Father that loves us so much.

John FehlenLead PastorWest Salem Foursquare www.wsfc.org

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