26/04/2024
Who is your Father in the Lord?
Apostle Paul was probably the first known writer to use that coinage or anything that resembles it.
He called the likes of Timothy and Titus his children in the Lord. Why was it so? Because he taught and mentored them into ministry. He travailed for them in long hours of prayer. He advised them on social and health issues. He recommended them to people for assistance, and he referred to them matters of heavy consequence to handle.
In other words, he trusted, believed in, and respected them.
More also, Paul didn't have biological children, so he relied on his "spiritual sons" for the same things biological sons would normally do for their fathers.
The men of today who crave for people to call them Fathers, must do as Paul did. You don't deserve to be called a Daddy if you haven't made any sacrifice or laboured for anyone.
Jesus never used the word, except for his father in heaven. In fact, he frowned at people calling others father. He said, "don't call anyone father, for you have only one father, who is God in heaven".
Paul, didn't give instructions that people should be called fathers. He rather instructed that elderly men should be respected, in accordance with the law.
If you are all in the same congregation, you are brothers and sisters. If you want to be addressed as a Daddy, do like one. If I call you Daddy it means I have seen you done something to someone, who is not your biological child, what only daddies would do. For taking care of other's children you are a father.
But, for those wishing to be called Daddies just because you are a pastor, how many people have you travailed or suffered for?
A Bishop in another church, who does not relate or know me personally, cannot be my father. I will only respect you as God's servant, but don't expect to hear me call you Daddy.
Some congregants are also to blame. You tag anyone you saw as Daddy simply because they preached to you, or because you want something from them.
Calling someone Father is not a salutation, it is a reverence meant for those who deserve it. It has socio-spiritual implications also.
How can you call a boy of 30 years "Daddy", just because he is a pastor? Paul told such young men to even relate to the women as mothers and sisters. It is that young pastor that should call you "Mummy", not you calling him "Daddy".
To be a father, shepherd all as this animal in the picture did.
Copied
