“Father’s Day” is a time to recognize the importance of Christian men as husbands and as fathers. Although we have the example of our Heavenly Father to follow, it is clearly impossible to be like Him (Rom. 8:14-25) until we have been changed by means of the new birth (Jn. 3:5, 7) and receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mk. 1:8; Acts 2:4). Until that happens all of our good intentions, “vows” or “promises” will result in failure (Deut. 23:20-23; Rom. 3:23). 

Christians are “covenant keepers” not “promise keepers”. Paul tells us that a husband is supposed to be the “head” of his household. “Head” does not mean “the boss”, the one who has the last word on every decision. To be the head of a family means that it is the Christian husband’s responsibility is like a Pastor, to see that his family’s spiritual needs are met under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He is to be a “servant of all” (Mk. 9:3). Jesus is the only one who is supposed to have the “last word” on our decisions. When Paul says to both husband and wife, “Be subject to one another out of your reverence for Christ”, in the Greek translation, it is not a commandment. He is calling them to “volunteer” to minister to each other just as Jesus does ministry (2 Cor. 5:20; Eph. 6:20).  
 
A Christian husband’s first responsibility is to introduce his wife and children to Jesus as their Saviour and Lord so that they can receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and have the “signs following” (Mk. 16:17-18); and to encourage them to use their “gifts of the Spirit” in their family fellowship. This requires the “character of Jesus” to be developed in us in the form of “the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23) so a husband can act like Jesus and treat other people in the same way that Jesus does. Then it is possible to “love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it” (Eph. 5:24). He is talking about “agape-love” (1 Cor. 13:4-8), God’s perfect love which never causes any kind of physical, mental, or emotional abuse. 

Since Paul sees the family as a “mini church” (Eph. 5:32), it means that every member of the family must be willing to be directed by the Holy Spirit through the use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10). Every member must be able to receive the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:7-15). By using the gifts of the Spirit, a family can be guided every day and have their needs met. Just as Paul gives advice about what should happen when a church meets, those same instructions must be followed in a family (1 Cor. 14:26-40). The Holy Spirit must be able to equip each family member with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:11). Then a family is like a church, and equipped to use all of the gifts of Holy Spirit (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10). 

All of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be encouraged by the Christian Father. Then a father will not “provoke” his children to “wrath” (Eph. 6:4), and they “will obey” their parents “in the Lord” (Eph. 6:1). The kind of Christian Father described by Paul (Acts 9:17-18; 1 Cor. 14:18) can have a loving relationship with his wife and his children only after he, like Paul, has been saved, baptized with the Holy Spirit and is a witness to his wife, family and friends. Happy Father’s Day!