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Father Survey

FATHER SURVEY

Teleios’ recent survey evaluated the biblical role of men. There were 837 responses. Below are explanations to questions of biblical importance. For full survey results click here.

What are the biblical principles of the Christian husband (please choose all that apply)?

  • Husband has just one wife*** (1 Timothy 3:2)
  • The husband loves his wife as Christ loves the church*** (Ephesians 5:21-33)
  • Husband nurtures his wife*** (Ephesians 5:21-33)
  • Husband presents his wife pure before God*** (Ephesians 5:21-33)
  • Husband cleaves to His wife and leaves his birth family*** (Ephesians 5:21-33)
  • Husband loves himself when he loves his wife*** (Ephesians 5:21-33)
  • Wife does what he her husband says
  • Wife cleaves to the husband
  • The husband tells his wife everything she is supposed to do
  • The husband and wife submit to each other in accordance to God’s word*** (Ephesians 5:21-33)
  • Sex, unless both are in prayer for a short time*** (1 Corinthians 7:2-9)
  • Husband is responsible for the conduct of the marriage before God
  • Continue the human race and/or populate the world
  • Biblical principles no longer apply in this modern age

***Correct answer

What are biblical principles in raising children for a Christian father (please choose all that apply)?

***Correct answer

How does a man prepare himself for Christian marriage and fatherhood (please choose all that apply)?

  • No need beyond waiting to meet the “right one”
  • Become a godly person myself so I attract a godly partner*** (Ephesians 5:15-20)
  • Become a godly person myself so I am worthy of a godly partner*** (Ephesians 5:15-20)
  • Learn God’s word in an ongoing process***
  • Practice the Christian faith in: praise, prayer, fellowship, outreach, and Bible study***
  • Perform godly activities where I can meet a godly marriage partner***
  • Just be himself

    ***Correct answer

    What principles of fatherhood can we gain from the epistles describing God Our Father?

    ***Correct answer

     

    FATHERHOOD – God’s relationship to us

    New Testament believers are blessed to have the promise that God acts as our father (Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2). Many of us take this promise for granted for granted as we have heard it since we were children in Sunday school.

    However, this was not always the case. In the Old Testament God was not noted to be the father of individual believers. This father-child relationship is described for Christians in the New Testament epistles and it’s based on our precious adoption as children by God as indicated in Ephesians 1:5 and Galatians 4:5, with all the legal rights of family membership and inheritance (which is our salvation).

    In addition, God’s fatherhood brings to Christians the close relationship to his individual children not noted in the Old Testament and reflects all the love, care, correction and intimacy of a father with his child. Many of these scriptures and points are noted in the questions above. God’s attitude and actions towards us, as His children, certainly guide us in how we can parent our own children.

    MARRIAGE – An example of salvation and a function of fatherhood

    Marriage is a foundational institution in our society as it replenishes the country’s population which help maintain our freedoms in the next generation. It also provides an important social unit for the function of society in providing order and helping the weak in society; the poor, children and the elderly. Marriage additionally assists its participants; numerous studies have shown the benefit of traditional marriage on personal wellbeing, health, longevity, and finances.

    Marriage also represents an important cultural entry into society for married couples. Emotionally, marriage provides love, acceptance, intimacy and children. As important as these attributes are regarding marriage, spiritually it is even more important. The Bible describes the main purpose of Christian marriage as demonstrating to society the precious relationship between Christ and the church. Stated another way, it is primarily an evangelical tool (Ephesians 5:21-33)!

    Wow! Why is this, considering all the other important reasons for marriage? Please consider the following:

    • God’s goals – God’s plans are greater than our own and His plan is to sum up all history in Christ (Ephesians 1:10-11). Consequently, viewing marriage and its purpose within the overall construct of God’s plan is important and appropriate. God wants all people to come to know Him and so marriage is primarily evangelical as we demonstrate Christ’s loving relationship to the church.
    • Importance to us – However, considering marriage as a witness to society, it is also vital to our own marriage relationships as it reminds us that we were married for God’s purposes and not primarily for our own desires such as: sex, a wonderful marriage ceremony, and having children (as wonderful as they are).
    • Remembering God’s goal in marriage also minimizes whatever expectations for marriage we might possess such as how the kitchen is arranged, who mows the lawn, and who pays the bills.
    • Defines the relationship – Knowing that the purpose of marriage is to reflect Christ and the church reminds us that as we primarily serve Christ and our spouse. Otherwise, we leave and cleave from our prior families and create new priorities with our beloved marriage partner and God (Ephesians 5:31-32).

    How then does marriage reflect the relationship between Christ and the church?

    • The love between a man and a woman reflects the love Christ and the church have for each other.
    • The love of the husband, and his complete devotion to his wife, reflects the love and devotion of Christ to the church.
    • The submission of the wife for her husband reflects the submission of the church to Christ.

    The prescribed order of people and institutions in the Bible is important not only for healthy functioning of society, but for the church and family as well (1 Timothy 2:1-4). It is within the confines of order that the gospel best goes forward to bring people to Christ.

    • This combination of order, love and devotion provide a productive, caring picture to society of what Christ does for the church. Marriage should attract people to the gospel.

    Marriage is a wonderful institution that God has ordained and provides marvelous benefits to the church, society and individuals. However, at its highest purpose is an evangelical tool that God uses to attract people to the gospel.

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