Fathers: The Key to Strengthening the American Fabric

Look at America! Do you like what you see?

The Modernist philosophy of life is dominating America. A fundamental belief is that the father is irrelevant for the personal development of the family members.? They question all patriarchal systems and the authority traditionally associated with fatherhood. They do not believe in the inherent power dynamics in the traditional family structure. Modernists? believe the role of the father as the primary figure is unnecessary for the wholesome development of children. What is that doing to our children? They have no harmonious? direction for living their best life. Anything goes. Modernists believe that a person’s subjective experience and inner life will dictate how they live. Modernists believe that a father who directs and controls actions is oppressive and keeps children from being truly individual.

Storytelling is one of the ways a father shares morals, behaviors, and customs. Modernist think that orderly, linear and cohesive storytelling is not for our times.? Traditional stories usually follow a straightforward, chronological order (beginning, middle, end). Modernist narratives often disrupt this by jumping back and forth in time, using flashbacks, or presenting events out of sequence. This approach reflects the complexity and unpredictability of human experience they think is necessary. Chaos. Traditional stories typically aim for a clear, unified plot where everything makes sense and ties together neatly. Modernist works, on the other hand, might embrace ambiguity, fragmentation, or contradictions. They might leave loose ends, present multiple perspectives, or delve into the subconscious, reflecting a disjointed nature of reality. This looks like a pure promotion of chaos to me.

Modernists diminish the father’s role in all types of media. You can see it everywhere.? They are working hard to shift the focus from fathers to mothers or some other maternal figures.? This goes with their exploration of alternative family styles and a variety of gender roles.? They downplay the traditional concepts of masculinity, which are closely related to the role of a father and diminish the role of the father as provider and protector.? This is reflected in their literature and other media.? Modernist literature frequently portrays fathers as alienated and dysfunctional. Fathers in all types of media are often depicted as flawed, distant, or failing in their traditional roles, and of course, this leads to a? diminished perception of fatherhood. All of this adds to the chaos in America.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Hosea 4:6 KJV

Let’s explore the facts concerning fatherhood. Data from reputable studies suggests that children from two-parent (father/mother) families tend to have better outcomes in various aspects of life, including education, economic stability, behavioral and emotional health, social development, and physical health. Two of the studies are: "The Impact of Fathers on Children's Development" (Lamb, 2004) and? “Father's Involvement and Children's Academic Achievement: Evidence from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study" (Nord, Brimhall, & West, 1997) The comprehensive study by Michael E. Lamb examines the various ways fathers influence their children's emotional, cognitive, and social development. The study highlighted the importance of a father's involvement in a child's life, showing that children with actively engaged fathers tend to have better psychological outcomes, higher academic achievement, and fewer behavioral problems.

The study of Nord, Brimwell, and West used data from an Early Childhood Longitudinal Study.? A longitudinal study is?a research design that involves repeated observations of the same variables over a long period of time. This Longitudinal Study was used to explore the relationship between father’s involvement in their children's education and the children's academic performance. It found that children whose fathers were more involved in their schooling had higher grades and were more likely to excel academically, emphasizing the crucial role fathers play in supporting their children's educational success. The problems we are having with our educational system show the absence of fathers.

Consider some of the problems we are experiencing in our school systems. We see students interrupting lessons, talking when not called on, or engaging in side conversations, insulting or threatening teachers and other students, ignoring school policies or teacher instructions,? challenging authority figures, and arguing with teachers or staff. This occurs because children are allowed to grow up without any structure. They are like wild weeds in a garden with no structure. This contributes to the chaos we see in America. Our future could be in the hands of wild weeds creating a truly chaotic situation for America.? Fortunately, our fathers can help mend the torn fabric of America as they lead their families.

Fathers help mend the tear in many ways. First of all, children with active father involvement tend to exhibit better social skills and are more adept at forming healthy relationships with peers. Fathers often model social interactions and provide guidance on navigating social situations. Second, fathers influence their children's understanding of gender roles and identity. Positive father involvement helps children develop a balanced perspective on gender and promotes healthy gender identity formation. Third and very important is, fathers serve as role models for both sons and daughters. They provide examples of masculinity and fatherhood for sons and demonstrate how men should treat women for daughters. Fourth, father studies have shown that children with involved fathers tend to perform better academically.? They often achieve higher grades, have better verbal and math skills, and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college.? This is strong influence on the cognitive development of a child. Engaged fathers contribute to their children's language development and problem-solving abilities.? Finally, fathers embed a respect for authority in their children and that solves many problems we see in the schools.

Our fathers can mend the tear in America’s fabric with their leadership and wisdom. Their wisdom must come from our Super Intelligence, the Word of God and His influence. How can you help support our fathers?