Editor’s Note: This week’s Kingdom Man lesson challenged men to become a Kingdom Father? Let’s hear what Mike has to say.
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The fall in the garden was not Eve’s fault. Adam did not fulfill his God given role to lead and to protect her. Who let’s a slimy animal slither up to his wife and just stands there like a clueless statue while the snake insults his God and tempts his wife? And then once he joins her in sin, he blames her and God rather than taking responsibility. It was the woman you gave me.” Pathetic.
As I stood at the front of the chapel looking at 90 men in white and about 15 volunteers, I felt the weight of that moment as it hung over this lesson this lesson. I don’t know each man’s story, but I know enough to see the pattern. And it’s a pattern of men not stepping up and fulfilling their God given role .
Most of the men I’m looking at had an “A Father.” What’s an “A Father” you ask? Thanks for asking. An “A Father” is either an:
- Absent father
- Abusive father
- Apathetic father
“Adam where you at” indeed.
The sad part is many of these men were now “A Fathers” too. And they had likely been one BEFORE they came to prison as well. I spoke to one man who said his biggest fear was not that he might not ever get out of prison but that one or both of his sons might get in. That’s a legacy these men have to deal with DAILY.
So how is a “Kingdom Father” different from an “A Father”?
- A Kingdom Father is present. He shows up in his family and puts his needs and wants behind the needs of his wife and family. Kingdom Fathers eat last if at all. Kingdom fathers turn down jobs that will take them away from their families even if it means a smaller house etc.
- A Kingdom Father loves his family and shows them that love in all of his actions. He disciplines but never abuses.
- A Kingdom Father is passionate about his family. He loves hearing about his kids’ days, helping them with their homework and his wife with the housework. He’s the leader that leads by doing not by sitting on the couch.
Most of all, a “Kingdom Father” is a man under authority and in alignment under Jesus. His family knows he follows Christ and that’s the reason he’s a “Kingdom Father.”
These men have to work very hard to be present since they are behind bars. They struggle to show their families they love them with only an occasional video chat. It’s so hard to be passionate about their families when their families resent them for not being there, for making choices that may have condemned the family to a cycle of struggle and pain.
Yet the 90 men in the class are trying. They are trusting God to work this out as they submit to His authority. Pray for them and learn from their mistakes. Start being a Kingdom Father RIGHT NOW!