Father's
Day Message
If anyone ever doubted the crucial importance of fathers, the horrible legacy of Saddam Hussein erases
those doubts. Saddam s own father either died or abandoned the family when Saddam was young (reports differ) . In
any case, Saddam was reared by his mother until she remarried. A former personal secretary to Saddam has said that
his stepfather abused him and taught him to steal. According to some reports, he even tortured young Saddam. One can readily see how such a childhood
might produce a vicious dictator who lacks any respect for human life, and is willing to brutally murder his own
people and terrorize the world. Fatherhood is a profound responsibility. I have personally found it to be a very special and precious role. God designed it after Himself --
not simply as a heartwarming observance once a year on Father s Day, but as a way to teach us about the unconditional
love of a Father. As fathers fulfill their biblical role, the results are deeply rewarding. But whenever and wherever
fathers fall short of their God-given responsibilities, the results can be tragic. Saddam Hussein is only the most
recent high-profile example. Author Paul Vitz has famously
observed in his book Faith of the Fatherless
that prominent atheists have often linked
their rejection of God to defective relationships with their fathers. Sigmund Freud, Friedrich Nietzsche, Madalyn
Murray O Hair, and others are clear examples of this sad phenomenon. Sadly, the default of
fathers is epidemic in our nation today. America s children are in distress, and a large factor in this reality
is because fatherhood is becoming obsolete, and all of us are paying the price. ¶ "Nearly
a quarter of all American children live in fatherless households. ¶ "Nearly
two-thirds of all youth suicides occur in fatherless homes (according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Bureau of the Census). ¶ "Nine out
of ten homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes. ¶ "Seven
out of ten high school dropouts and juveniles in state-run institutions come from fatherless homes (according to
the National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools and a U.S. Dept. of Justice Special Report). ¶ "Three
out of four adolescent patients in chemical abuse treatment centers come from fatherless homes (according to Rainbows for all God's Children). Science now confirms that children whose fathers have moved into the visitor category in their lives
fail to develop key coping skills. The result of this often leads to significant emotional and academic problems,
promiscuous sexual activity, and sometimes even violence and criminal behavior. Presently, there is a generation of fatherless, under-supervised, emotionally neglected, and spiritually
troubled children! So today, with Father's Day approaching, I ask you to reflect on the growing invisibility of
the classic good family man in our country ... the man who many in our popular culture have tried to deem unnecessary. Responsible fatherhood that follows God's design is desirable, even essential, to the public good,
because fatherhood is a key element of God's eternal plan. God created the traditional family with both a mother
and a father for our good, and to be a godly institution in a civil society.
Father's Day occurs in June each year.