| Father Figure - article by Joel Hempel Last year, standing in line at Walgreens on the Monday before Father’s Day, I heard a public service announcement over the intercom: “Don’t forget your father figure on Sunday.” Conflicting thoughts bounced around in my mind: My father has long since passed . . . I miss him. But, I do have a heavenly Father. I also know some of my friends and colleagues object to God being called Father. Many of you may not be aware that referring to God as Father is offensive to a sizable portion of the Christian church. Growing up, some people have had to endure a severely abusive father. Thus, embracing God as Father is a challenge at best, and at worst, too painful to trust. In addition, they point out that Scripture was written at a time when a paternal reference to God was ordinary and expected since women were not valued as highly as men. Thus, it is believed that God inspired the writers of Scripture to use language that would resonate with readers at that time in human history. But now is now, and our views of women have drastically changed. So, referring to God as Father is no longer necessary or helpful. In a previous article, I mentioned that my father and I did not have a close relationship until later in life. But I am grateful to God that we reconciled, could hug each other, and say I love you. But if I wanted an intimate and vulnerable conversation, I went to Mom. She was my Abba.* So, I get it when friends and colleagues have told me they have an easier time thinking of God as Mother (see Luke 13:34). I don’t understand how God – who is Spirit – can have a gender, but I can’t break from Scripture’s references to God as Father. So, who is our Abba Father? - He is One with Jesus (John 14:9-11).
- The One to whom we pray (Matthew 6:9).
- God the Father is extravagant, as seen in His creation and the way He loves us: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are (1 John 3:1 NIV).
- He is the one who adopted us through the redemptive work of Jesus, and thus, as His Son returned to heaven, so also we will join him as brothers and sisters in Christ (Romans 8:14-16).
- Our Father disciplines us out of love so that we may grow in faith and faithfulness (Hebrews 12:4-11).
- The Father has revealed His will for us, supplies our needs, forgives us, leads us away from temptation, and delivers us from evil (Matt. 6:10-13).
- And so much more!
I guess people have to believe what they believe about God and how God represents God’s Self, and I respect them for it. I also ask my beloved friends and colleagues to respect those of us who confidently trust and pray to our Father in Heaven. *In Scripture, abba expressed warmth and intimacy – see Mark 14:35-36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6-7. | 
