Emerging Fatherhood

“Isn’t there subtle pressure in both the Church and society to remain a dependent child? Hasn’t the Church in the past stressed obedience in a fashion that made it hard to claim the spiritual fatherhood, and hasn’t our consumer society encouraged us to indulge in childish self-gratification? Who has truly challenged us to liberate ourselves from immature dependencies and to accept the burden of responsible adults?” -Henri Nouwen

Jesus calls us to become children of God that we might one day inherit the Kingdom of God. There are many aspects to becoming a child before the Lord, but growing into adulthood may be among the hardest. Suppose that Jesus call for us to reclaim our childhood through him creates within us a proper or godly infrastructure by which we grow into manhood. We allow our childhood to be a base on which we grow up to inherit the glorious riches the Lord has prepared for us. No Kingdom is to be ruled by children. God’s call to his kingdom revolves around his desire for us to become like him – a generous Father.

Jesus represents the new Adam within each of us. Thus by accepting Christ, we become children of a new breed, no longer under the guise of sinful man. As we grow to become like Christ we learn more about him and his – as well as our – Father. God’s call is to never cease to be his children while he perfects us in his image. As the Lord is merciful and gracious and loving and kind, we are to follow in the footsteps of our Father, even to the point of becoming like him in his death. Claiming sonship in our lives proclaims our aspirations for fatherhood.

Such a complete transformation into Fatherhood requires much patience and prayer. Our participation becomes a dance with the Father as he perfects our clumsy feet through his fluid movements in our lives. The role of the Church (capitalized as Nouwen uses it) has been one of partner in adolescence, awaiting maturation as she grows into the bride who will one day be swept up by the Groom. As God’s children, we should strive for maturation right along with her.

Today’s American church has held on to childhood for so long that it has forgotten to fight for Fatherhood. In an effort to maintain a status quo or keep the numbers up, we have failed to produce fathers. The church herself has been stuck in a state of adolescence for far too long. She has offended a great many, taken pride in her appearance, allowed herself to be prostituted to bring in the masses, and all the while has missed her calling to patiently mature for her groom. She has been around long enough to learn from her mistakes and yet keeps making them over and over again.

Emergent brings a fresh air. As generation of leaders grows sick of childhood pandering, the call to emerge beyond classical traditions and seek adulthood has come. Emergent may be reactionary and critical, but that is necessary for growth. The rebuke of the father is required to reach adulthood. Searching for new communities, learning to love in holistic ways, longing for the future Kingdom, remembering the past. Will the traditional church strive for maturity along with us, or will she continue to revel in childhood?

Lord, may we embrace your Fatherhood as we mature into your bride.