Line Upon Line

The last six commandments introduce us to a series of laws that define the proper relationships with others while the first four show how to LOVE God. This commandment is a bridge between the two areas. The fifth commandment underscores the importance of respect for authority, to a well-run society. People must learn how to show respect to others especially parents and grandparents.

Exodus 20:12 NKJV 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

The family is the starting place for building respectful character. This law is good for both parents and children. Children feel more secure with parental guidelines and rules. Boundaries are good for the young. A vast amount of evidence exists that when a society has reached a critical mass of fatherless children, horrible things happen. Violence and theft skyrocket. Bringing into this world intentionally a child without a committed father is the worse thing a mother can do to that child. Why , because God’s laws are immutable. Children need the guidance and discipline of both parents.

Proverbs 13:24 He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

Statistics clearly support this obvious observation that homes need both parents and fathers are missing in many homes. These are 2024 numbers:

63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census) 5 times the average.

• 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes – 32 times the average.

• 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average. (Center for Disease Control)

• 80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes –14 times the average. (Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, p. 403-26)

• 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average. (National Principals Association Report

• Children with Fathers who are involved are more likely to get A’s in school.• Children with Fathers who are involved are more likely to enjoy school and engage in extracurricular activities.

• 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers, come from fatherless homes ,10 times the average

Western society are facing a growing danger that few acknowledge. Women are told they do not need men. Men and women need each other especially in child rearing. 43% of US children live without their father, and is it getting worse?

OUR GOAL IS TO LEARN TO LOVE ‘THE FATHER’ DEEPLY AND INTRINSICALLY !

Why are believers ordered to pray to the ‘Father’ in heaven in the name of Christ? Because Jesus knows that our loving God the Father is our number one goal. Therefore Satan’s number one goal is to thereby undermine ‘The Father’ and fatherhood.

Luke 11:1-2 …that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” 2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 22:37-38 NKJV 37 Jesus said to him,” ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the first and great commandment.

Since Father and Son are one or united- a believer must learn to love them both but the overall emphasis is on loving ‘The Father’. Therefore diminishing the role of the family led by a loving father is destructive. But this is what the establishment is pushing.

THE ESTABLISHMENT IS PUSHING AN ANTI-FAMILY ANTI-FATHER AGENDA

Cultural and intellectual forces have been pushing; hard for this anti-fatherhood direction in society. We seem to have a growing number of single parent homes.

Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!

This culture is against people like Charlie Kirk who said to young men the outrageous statement that they should ‘fall in love, get married and have children’. Can you imagine that, woe.

Ezekiel 9:4 and the LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”

Actually, we should be sad over all the violations of God’s sacred laws and principles including denying many children of a two parent home, and a strong, loving father.

THE VITAL ROLE OF THE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS CANNOT BE DENIED

This law comes with a promise. If one obeys it ‘his days will be prolonged’ and that it ‘may be well with you’. See Deut. 5:16, Ex 20:12. God gave us this promise. Families are the building blocks of societies and nations. Father and Grand father are used interchangeably in the bible. Lack of respect for authority sets one up a ruinous life.

Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Parents in a loving manner, must nurture and develop the next generation. However take note that verse four reminds us to not exasperate our children. Kids should be treated with appropriate respect. We must use wisdom in our discipline.

Deuteronomy 6:5-8 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up… 8 ..and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes

We need to be sure the child knows that we love them for themselves. We also need to set a good example. Children act on what is modeled for them by their parents. If we treat our parents badly when they get old our kids will probably treat us the same way. Respect grandparents in the child’s presence! It is a line God does not want us to cross. This will be a blessing to them allowing them to live a longer.

TOTALITARIANISM ATTEMPTS TO REPLACE THE PARENT CHILD BOND

Fidel Castro’s army went into schools and told the children to close their eyes and pray to God for candy. Then they opened their eyes and found nothing. Then they were told to close their eyes again and this time pray to Castro for candy. While their eyes were closed the soldiers put candy on their desk. Needless to say communism does not work and Cuba is suffering both high human rights violations and dire poverty. So much so that hundreds of thousands braved shark infested oceans in rafts to escape. Progressives who do not believe in the Bible produce policies that undermine family discipline and the value of fathers. They want the child’s allegiance shifted from the parents to the state! Progressive socialists refuse to believe in the value of the Ten Commandments. State dictators cannot substitute for loving fathers!

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO COME TO HONOR GOD WITHOUT HAVING A FATHER TO HONOR.