We are looking at a landscape today that is caused by the lack of fatherhood. Of literal fathers being involved in their children’s lives and actively raising them to become independent, principled, God fearing men and women that contribute to society the things that matter. 

Instead, because of the pain of loss of fathers, whether consciously felt or not, we see terrible replacements. Government, media, actors and actresses, social influencers, professional athletes. Some of this is hero worship, which has afflicted every society. Although in modern day America the lack of fathers in the home has led to a greatly exacerbated issue. 

What if I told you that much of the pain and suffering we see from society losing its social mooring, its ability to think critically and deeply, our lack of REAL social connection etc, could be solved by fatherhood; and again, by the central theme of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Let me explain with an issue that is constantly at the social and political forefront (also socioeconomic but thats for another blog). 

Abortion. 

60 Million + babies, human children, have been killed since the terrible and frankly unconstitutional Supreme Court decision of Roe v Wade. Infanticide is not new to the world, it was practiced by almost every culture we have record of. But we, like so many things America has done over the years, incorporated it, and made it “efficient”, then mass produced it. Planned Parenthood is a corporation, with a bottom line financially, whos (whats/its/IDK?) main industry is ending pregnancies by ending human lives. 

They provide a service which a society gone mad thinks is reasonable to provide. Ill let you look into the intensely racist Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood and proponent of eugenics on your own time.

What is the solution to an evil like this? As well as all the problems that are a fruit of this nihilistic view of the world. 

Jesus was a baby (for a while..he grew up..). Born of a woman. Mary being placed in a shameful cultural situation. I don’t sidestep her obedience and incredible character here, but I want to highlight something else here. Why, then, do we have Jesus then raised by a loving family...Joseph. By far the most underrated person in the new testament. He loved Mary, listened to angels sent by God, and raised a son that was not the fruit of his own body. He chose to step up to the plate and in my opinion one of the manliest characters in the gospels. Raised Jesus, gave him a trade, and no doubt helped guide his destiny as the Son of God. 

Dads make a difference. 

Imagine how many abortions would be halted by a man raised well, and in turn would then choose to raise that child despite the circumstances?  Or imagine a generation of men that control their sexual impulse in order to help create family, and then a well ordered and free society? Yes, I am sure some abortions would still take place, despite the fathers wishes, or in secret due to shame of some kind. But if a man stands in the gap and offers to raise the child, even if that means on his own, we would see this number drastically reduce. In time, Roe V Wade would become an outdated and unenforceable decision. Why? We boycott the “industry” in the long run by raising good men that become good fathers. Whether they have made a mistake with their sexual choices or whatever the circumstances. 

The idea here is that the man has been responsible in creating life. Good societies and nations for human flourishing have a majority of men that take responsibility for protecting for and providing for that life. Even if it means giving up your own.

This brings me to my final point. This is a profoundly Christian idea. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross preached and the resurrection assured is the solution for abortion. 

Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life, nobody comes to the Father but by Me”. 

This is a profound statement. Jesus gives us a way to family, he shows us what it means to be a son and how to be part of this new kingdom family. A way to THE Father. 

Jesus took on the responsibility of the entire human race of the cross to save us all from eternal death. We, as carriers of this good news, carry on that responsibility in bringing life and not death to the world. The most effective way to do that on a personal and societal level is to have fathers in place that love and nurture not only the life of their own children, but stand for the voiceless and the innocent. It seems odd to say, but the solution to what has been called a women's issue, that really is all of our issue, is men doing what they are created to do. 

Provide, protect, cultivate and nurture LIFE in whatever their sphere of influence. By raising people in the light of the gospel of Jesus. 

Take 1000 or more societal level issues of brokenness and insert “dad’ in the blank. How many things do you think would drastically improve in a generation or two? 

This is why Jesus’ statement about going to the Father is so vitally important. Our Father in heaven is intent on his family, his people, being set free, and dare I say, shaping a free culture here on earth as it is in heaven. Secular humanism has failed us and continues to do so by almost every measure. 

It’s time for fathers with the gospel of peace and righteousness in their hearts to be the new abolitionists. To abolish darkness and death in their own family, and in the long run society. Being a dad is a high calling, after all, this is how our God chooses to reveal himself through Christ. And like Him we must give what is most precious to our children so that they can be free. 

The fruit of fatherlessness is all around us. Imagine the opposite. A world full of loving fathers following the example of their heavenly Father. Standing up for the orphan, the widow, and the voiceless. Creating order out of chaos. Bringing life where there is death. Light where there is darkness through gospel centered households and churches. 

And it all starts with Dad. 

It’s time we filled the vacuum in society that is screaming for love and direction.