A Letter to Dads About Church and Father’s Day

Let me preface this post with the fact that I don’t know it all, and I’m not a perfect Christian. I am not claiming to be an expert of any kind and while yes, I am a Father myself, I’ve only been one for a little while now. Now that we have that out of the way, let me address the Dads who I’m hoping will read this.

I’ve been in ministry for the past decade and have learned a LOT about the church, our culture, trends, relationships, marriage, divorce, leadership, fathers, mothers, and children. I’ve also noticed something very specifically about Dads when it comes to Church and Father’s Day.

From what I’ve gathered, this seems to be the same all around the country, not just Texas, but when Father’s Day rolls around, one of the main things that takes place is the Dad “calling in the favor” to skip Church on Father’s Day. It’s a “gift” to him. One of the “only chances” he gets to skip Church.

Did you know, on Mother’s Day, Church attendance is very high across the board, but on Father’s Day…it’s one of the lowest days attended of the year?

What???

Dads:

• Do you realize what you’re saying when you act this way?
• Do you understand what you’re proclaiming is most important in your life?
• Do you know the model you are setting for your family’s future?

While I understand that many of you Dads may not follow Jesus so you would disagree with me right here, please finish reading to the end to read what you’re missing about leading your families.

To the other Dads, the ones who claim to follow Jesus, you would serve yourself and your family well to keep reading. If you’re unwilling to do that, then you really need to take a hard look at yourself and ask why not.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” – 1 Corinthians 13:11

“Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

Dads, Men, can I say something very blunt to you? What are you doing?!

We all need to act like men. We are the spiritual leaders within our homes.

We are called by God Himself to stand firm in the faith, to “act like men,” to be strong. God tells us as we become men, we are to give up childish ways…that includes selfishness. And if we train our children the way they should go, they will not depart from their training as they grow older.

Our culture does not define manhood, it defines selfishness. We need to act like men.

We have a tremendous opportunity on Father’s Day to lead our families!

Our Culture Would Say:

• Take the day off, this is all for you.
• Relax, you deserve it.
• Make this about you, you don’t need to do anything.

The Bible Would Say:

• Be watchful (make the most of every opportunity to glorify The Lord)
• Stand firm (even in the midst of temptations or culture swaying you, take a stand)
• Be strong (don’t be weak, lead and serve your family, in and out of season)

THIS is what Father’s Day is all about. Our Heavenly Father sent Jesus, who lived a perfect life, died on the cross paying the penalty for all our past, present, and future sins, and then rose from the dead defeating death and sin in Victory.

And now we, as followers of Jesus, as men of God, as Father’s to our own children, we get the opportunity to sacrifice ourselves for our families. To train them towards what it means to live for Jesus. To show them we stand firm for Jesus. To lead them to live for Jesus.

And, especially on Father’s Day, we show them what it means to be a Father because of the example we have from our Heavenly Father.

Mike Mobley

Follower of Christ, Husband to Joelle, Father to Peyton & Matthew, Finance & Operations Pastor at 121 Community Church, SAG-AFTRA Actor, Founder of Before The Cross, Owner of MMWCS, and Podcast Host for the Not Quite There Show.

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