Father's Day Sermons

First, I would like to wish a happy Father's Day to all! I've had an enjoyable day today; Jobina and the kids made me breakfast, gave me a new bike helmet, and then we went out to Boston Pizza with my parents). I hope everyone gets sometime today to reflect on the positive contributions fathers have made in their lives, not to mention our heavenly Father's as well.

Now for my rant.

I actually don't listening to the sermon on Father's Day Sunday. Why you ask? Because, unlike Mothers day (where the Mom's are simply appreciated and adored) Father's Day sermons are almost always about "You need to be a better Dad." Seriously! The implied message is "you need to do better." Imagine if it was reversed and the Mother's Day sermon was all about how Mom's need to improve their motherhood (and then gave advice on how to be a better Mom)? That poor pastor would be killed before the end of the sermon! But somehow we as men/Father's just sit there and take it. In fact, we expect it. "He's right, I should be doing more."

This is of course wrong and I am not the only person who has noted this contradiction. My Dad told me that just today he heard a sermon on the radio by Charles Stanley who noted this bias (Stanley then spoke today an affirming and encouraging sermon to Fathers). Where does this biased approach to sermons come from? I have two theories; one is that most pastors are men and so they feel comfortable telling a man how to improve as a Father but aren't comfortable telling a woman how to improve as a mother. The other is that we have a belief that Dad's don't really need to be thanked and appreciated to the extent that Mom's do. Where does this thinking come from I wonder? Mother's day is the busiest day of the year in the restaurant business. Father's day? No where close!

I think pastors need to let Father's Day sermons be as affirming of Dad's as Mother's Day sermons are affirming of Mom's. It all starts with a little chat with your pastor . . .

May Light increase!