PLYMOUTH – Fatherhood and Christian fatherhood are radically two different things! Billy Graham, the famous, world-traveling evangelist, understood that difference; but he likely captured that distinction during his daily devotions by reading the Bible throughout his lifetime for his own spiritual growth.
While living as a global, spiritual mentor to millions, he never forgot his children nor abandoned his responsibility to disciple his children who were nestled away with their mother in the mountains of North Carolina.
The Billy Graham Library collected quotes from many years, about fatherhood, from Graham. While Graham was in his home in North Carolina, with his two sons, Ned and Franklin, in 1965, he said:
“A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.”
“The greatest tribute a boy can give to his father is to say, ‘When I grow up, I want to be just like my dad.’ It is a convicting responsibility for us fathers and grandfathers.”
“Our lives speak loudly to those around us, especially the children in our home.”
In Graham’s autobiography, Just As I Am, he wrote:
“I tried to let all five of the children know that I loved them, no matter what they did; that I missed them when I was away . . . and that I wanted them to discover God’s perfect plan for each of them.”
The Billy Graham Library shared a statement written into Graham’s last will and testament. The declaration was about fatherhood. He said:
“I have loved and been proud of all five of my children and those whom they chose to marry. I have loved all of you equally, while each of you maintain a separate spot in my heart.”
On another occasion, Graham spoke candidly about the ethical, moral, and practical impact of behaving as a godly father when he said:
“If there were no heaven and no hell, I would still want to be a Christian because of what it does for our home and our families in this life.”
Billy Graham once described what it was like to leave for another crusade after having spent time being refreshed at home in North Carolina surrounded by his wife and children. He said:
“Many a time, I’ve driven down that driveway with tears coming down my cheeks, not wanting to leave.”
Paul and Fatherhood
Graham lived to be 99-years old. Much of what he said and wrote was recorded due to the fact that he was one of the most recognizable people in the world and his influence for the Lord was widespread. But Graham’s opportunity to influence his own children and grandchildren toward the Lord is similar to the occasion typical men have with their own children.
A pressing question is, “How intentional are today’s men at being ‘Christian’ fathers to their own children?” More specifically, “Do today’s men, who declare themselves as followers of Jesus Christ, see themselves as ‘Christian’ fathers with specific responsibilities to promote a Christian faith with their children, and is there an example to follow?” The Apostle Paul of the New Testament saw himself as a spiritual father to many. Paul wrote to the people of Corinth and said:
“I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. So, I urge you to imitate me. That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go,” (1 Corinthians 4:14-17, New Living Translation).
Look at the source, the start, the style, and the cycle of Christian fatherhood described in Paul’s words:
Sincere Love – Verse 14 indicates that shaming others does not create spiritual growth, rather spiritual growth blooms best from sincere love.
Spiritual Fatherhood – Verse 15 declares that spiritual nourishment for those young in the faith must come from a trusted source, rather than just any source.
Sterling Example – Verse 16 boasts that those new in the faith could copy Paul’s life and testimony. Would today’s typical man say to young ones, “Copy me?”
Subsequent Generations – Verse 17 displays the reality that newborns in the Lord need good examples to follow with each new generation and each phase of life.
Do today’s Christian men see spiritual guidance as a heritage to be handed down into each new generation of children, as much as the Apostle Paul? How much more would the world resemble what the Lord desires if Christian men followed Paul’s example?
Today’s life patterns would have to change for us to see a positive, spiritual impact. If hours of watching baseball or golf were replaced with spiritual guidance in the lives of those young in the faith, what would happen?
If training partnerships in Bible reading, prayer, and service projects overcame the importance of tackling techniques and three-point shooting, what could the new generations achieve?
If wasting vast amounts of the day scanning and touching digital screens were ended and meaningful conversations were started between fathers and children, what new discoveries in following the Lord could be enjoyed by each coming generation? We will only know if changes in life’s patterns occur!
Pop Quiz for Fathers
Research and observation tell us that most boys who grow up to become men do not enjoy reading. That same research tells us that men often only read what significant women place in front of them to read. So, the following pop quiz may never be seen by a man unless a woman places it in front of the man in her life along with the promise of a reward. But this “pop quiz” may be worth more than one could imagine. It could lead to a life change in the man and the new generations that enter his life.
A Father’s Pop Quiz
1. Using street signs as an indicator, which of the following street signs would you put up for your children/grandchildren if they thought of looking closely at and imitating your spiritual life?
a. Enter
b. No Trespassing
c. Caution
d. Danger
e. Construction Ahead
2. If your children/grandchildren were to write down a list of evidence that you are a follower of Jesus Christ, what would they put on their list?
3. Where are you on a list of the top five people who influence your children/grandchildren toward the Lord?
4. What would it take to increase your influence over your children/grandchildren to follow the Lord?
5. If you were to create two “punch lists” of things 1) to improve your Christian life and to 2) stop from damaging your Christian life, what would be the leading three things on each list?
After taking this pop quiz, each father/grandfather will have an assessment guide measuring his effectiveness at influencing his children/grandchildren to follow the Lord. It would be wise for each man to sit and discuss the results during the month of June with his wife or another man who could help him become a stronger Christian father.
Setting goals, changing patterns and scheduling follow-up assessments every two to three months between this Father’s Day and next year’s celebration could help those in the coming generations. Share this article and the pop quiz with others during June.
In the meantime, Happy Father’s Day!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Tony L. Lynn is the Send Network Director for Michigan and the Language/Ethnic Church Planting Catalyst. Before coming on staff at the BSCM, Tony served as a lead pastor in Michigan churches and as an international missionary, along with his wife Jamie, in the Niger Republic, France, and Canada.