Proverbs 4:2

Fathers have a crucial role. They are the main teachers of a family. Lazy or sinful fathers cost children more than any other single factor. Solomon’s father David had taught him, and he in turn taught his children. What can you do to build up fathers by this proverb?

Fathers should teach good doctrine; they should know their doctrine is good; they should tell their children it is good; they should press their children to keep it. Doctrine is teaching and instruction; it is the set of facts and principles that is given as final truth on a subject. To truly be good doctrine, it must be instruction or principles based on the Bible.

Godly fathers are not confused or timid men. They know they have truth and wisdom that the world does not have, and they give it authoritatively to their children. God said of Abraham, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment” (Gen 18:19).

Moses commanded fathers to teach their sons. He ordered, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deut 6:6-7).

Joshua declared to the whole nation of Israel, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Josh 24:15). It never crossed his mind that he should consult the PTA, PETA, the ACLU, the UN, or his wife or children what religion his family should have. He made the decision for them. What a great father!

David said to his family, “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD” (Ps 34:11). This doctrinal instruction from father to son can have far-reaching effects. “Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation” (Joel 1:3). It can guide four generations, or even more!

Where are fathers? A worldly father helps his girlfriend abort her first pregnancy, marries her after she conceives again, divorces her when their surviving child is 7, and during his every other weekend with his daughter approves worldly chatter that evolution is true, self-love is cool, and vegetarianism is wisdom from the East. He praises her for coming out as a lesbian at 15 and lets her get a tattoo on her forehead and studs elsewhere. He is a murderer and a scoundrel. God will judge him severely for corrupting the first and most important office and person his daughter met in life. He has no doctrine himself, and he allows her to believe worldly lies. She will be a statistic in a perverse generation.

Where are fathers? The typical Christian father sends the kids to Sunday School for a woman to teach, attends a few Little League games, locks out adult channels on the television, earns enough by hard work for two families to live on, sends them to a secular university, and pays for big weddings to carnal Christians or unbelievers. He is AWOL!

Fathers are a despised species. They are demeaned at school, ridiculed on television, mocked in movies, and ignored in court. They are browbeaten at home by overbearing wives, who “need to say something.” They are the butt of most family jokes. Kids learn to avoid them, conspire against them, steal from them, placate them, and disregard them.

Real fathers laugh at the conspiracy. They have an office and mandate from God, and they are going to do their job with confidence and zeal. They fear no man, especially their wives and children. They know they have more truth and wisdom than the local school board combined and squared. They say boldly, “I give you good doctrine!”

They establish boundaries and rules for children at an early age. They carefully teach what they must do and what they can never do. They inquire about their lives, follow-up on instruction, and enforce their authority and rules for the children’s profit. They say boldly, “Forsake ye not my law,” and they do all they can to help them remember it.

What is their textbook and manual? The word of God, the Holy Bible, the inspired Scriptures! They know that everything else is mere drivel and twaddle, the babblings of egotistical idiots in love with themselves (Is 8:20; I Tim 6:3-5,20-21). They despise any opinion contrary to God’s Word (Ps 119:98-100,128). They know they have wisdom, righteousness, and life to make men and nations great (Deut 4:5-10; 6:24-25; 32:46-47).

Where are the pastors to give fathers a holy example? They have abdicated their office to the minister of music, minister of sports, and minister of building programs. They are browbeaten by the deacon board and warned by the denominational headquarters to keep the message watered down to be politically correct and keep the unregenerate attending.

Pastors are a despised species. Their heroes in the faith – mighty men who thundered sound doctrine – are ridiculed as Neanderthal tyrants out of touch with their feminine side, who preached a male view of God and the psychologically-damaging concept of hell. They usually get ten minutes to preach to sleepy hearers in sandals and tank tops, for children’s theater, interpretive dance, Jesus rap, and fundraising took most of the service.

Real pastors laugh at the conspiracy. They also have an office and mandate from God, and they are going to blast the trumpet of repentance, reformation, and righteousness. They do not care about numbers, since they know only eight were in the ark and twenty-three million drowned slowly outside it! They will preach the word intensely, in spite of marketing surveys showing universal demand for fables and entertainment (II Tim 4:1-4).

What is their textbook and manual? The same word of God, Holy Bible, and inspired Scriptures! They know they are perfectly prepared for any and all ministerial work with only the Bible (II Tim 3:16-17). They are not moved by men or angels preaching or suggesting anything else (Job 32:6-10; Gal 1:6-9; II Cor 2:17; 4:1-2; 11:3-5,13-15).

Reader, do you love sound doctrine? Or are you part of the feminine movement to replace Bible preaching with entertainment and sharing sessions? Could you stand all day to hear the word of God read distinctly and the proper sense given (Neh 8:1-8)? Would you? Could you grieve for your sins, but celebrate for joy of understanding (Neb 8:9-12)? Would you ask for the same kind of service the next seven days (Neh 8:13-18)?

Do you know how to find sound doctrine? It is only in the Bible. It is your duty to search the Scriptures faithfully to see if what you hear is right (Acts 17:11). It is your duty to prove all things and hold fast that which is good (I Thess 5:21). It is then your duty to earnestly contend for that apostolic religion once delivered to God’s saints (Jude 1:3).

Do you know how to find sound doctrine? It is only in Jesus Christ’s true churches, which are fewer and fewer every year. Can you read II Timothy 3:1 – 4:4 and recognize that you live in perilous times of the last days, when most Christians and churches have left apostolic religion for a fluffy bundle of compromising and worldly heresies?

Father, at your disposal is God’s truth and wisdom. You should teach your children; you should do it confidently and dogmatically; you should enforce it. Your family’s future depends on it. Stand up, and be counted among God’s mighty men. Do not weakly correct your children like Eli without enforcing godliness. He painfully lost everything. You will soon stand before God and give an account of the children He entrusted to you.

Child, your father knows more than you can even imagine. If he teaches you something, listen to him. If he does not teach you, ask him to do so. When he teaches God’s holy scriptures and His doctrine, pay attention! Humble yourself! Do not forsake – forget or neglect or disregard – his law. Honor him for his efforts. Thank him. Remember his lessons. Obey his instruction. Teach your children the same. You may alter the world!

Pastor, you are God’s ambassador and guardian of His churches and people. You have good doctrine, for the scriptures are profitable for it and much more. Preach the word (II Tim 4:1-4)! Wage war with your hearers to pull down every foolish thought against His doctrine (II Cor 10:4-6). Be a fire and a hammer (Jer 23:28-30). The Lord is with you!