Faith.
The Importance OF A Father In The Home
The importance of the traditional nuclear family is an aspect of our society that is seldom recognized or considered in our current culture. The traditional nuclear family is defined as a married male and female, and their children, either biological or adopted. It is sometimes expanded to include multiple generations. Of the three institutions ordained by God-the home, government and the church-the home is foundational to the other two, and thus, to the entire culture and society. Anything which weakens or attacks this foundation, whether it be through politics, religion, societal “norms” etc., weakens and attacks the structure and values upon which our country flourishes. Betty Friedan’s bestselling book The Feminine Mystique is generally credited for what has been called the “Second Wave of Feminism”. In that book, she plainly states “The perfect nuclear family image depicted and strongly marketed at the time did not reflect happiness and was rather degrading for women.” In her depraved mind, she had a better plan than God!
Unfortunately, these efforts to diminish and destroy the nuclear family are more common than they are rare. These attacks come in the guise of homosexuality, transgenderism, sex outside of marriage, radical feminism advocating that a man is not necessary in a home, and one of the recent prominent ideas-the emasculation of the American man.
Study after study, secular as well as religious, have shown conclusively the importance of a father in the home. Some specific statistics (exact numbers may vary for study to study, but results consistently reflect the same conclusions):
- 75% of kids in substance abuse centers come from fatherless homes
- as do 71% of high school dropouts
- there are 24 million kids (33%) in a home without their birth father in America, the highest rate in the world (In 1960 only 9.1% of children were living with a single parent)
- 90% of runaway and homeless children are from fatherless homes (National Institute of Justice)
- The percentage of minors in prison who grew up without a father is 85% (Texas Department of Corrections)
- Teen girls without a father are 7 times more likely to become pregnant as a teenager (2017 U.S. Census).
- we could go on and on listing the negative effects on children without a father in the home
However, Dads overwhelmingly view being a parent as an important aspect of their personal identity, a survey of U.S. parents conducted in fall 2022 shows. The vast majority of fathers with children under 18 (85%) say being a parent is the most or one of the most important aspects of who they are as a person.
Kendall Qualls (a black man, if that matters) has stated “We don’t have a systemic racist problem, we have a fatherless home problem.”
Cambridge Dictionary defines father as: “a male parent,” but defines fatherhood as “a lifelong responsibility.” Let that sink in!
Sources: Joe Carter, Herndon, Virginia; Parents Plus Kids; fathers.com; takechargeus.com; focusonthefamily.com
Meet Pastor Stine
Personal: Lonnie and Mary both grew up near Burlington WI and have been married for 52 years. They have two children: Karen (Nate-MI) and Wayland II (Bruna-CT) and more importantly! six grandchildren: Malachi, Olivia, Ellia, Brienna, Charlotte and Clayton.
Experience: He spent 20 years in Christian Education in Florida, Texas, Connecticut and Wisconsin. He founded Heritage Christian Academy in Wallingford, CT in 1981, a school still operating. He served 21 years at the Wisconsin Veterans Home, most of those years as a Supervisor in the Dietary Department. He has pastored for 24 years and is in his 22nd year at Badger Community Church, Waupaca.
Education: Dr. Stine is a graduate of Maranatha Baptist University, Pensacola Christian College, College of the Open Bible and Faith Bible Institute.
Hobbies include spending time with grandchildren, Bible study, reading (history, biographies, Louis Lamour), deer hunting, collecting baseball cards, watching the Chicago Cubs & Bears.
Affiliations: Dr. Stine is a political independent, supporting and voting for those closest to Biblical and Constitutional principles. His interest in politics began in the 8th grade, influenced by None Dare Call It Treason and similar books, and he encouraged those old enough to vote to vote for Goldwater. He supported Ed Frami in his founding of the U.S. Taxpayers Party in Wisconsin and ran for State Assembly under that party in 1996. He is affiliated with the Wisconsin Conservative Digest, the Waupaca County Republican Party, the Constitution Party of Wisconsin, Americans For Life & Liberty, Turning Point Action, Liberty Counsel, Blaze Media, American Family Association, Wisconsin Christian News, Friends of Israel, United States Concealed Carry Association, Riverside Bible Camp (Amherst), Camp Joy (Whitewater), Baptists Fo r Life of Wisconsin, Pro-Life Wisconsin and Wisconsin Family Action/Council.
NOTE: Read Pastor Stine’s Column in the WCD every month.
About the Author
