THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD

by Rev. Joda Collins

The first thing to do before presenting information for or against any position or statement is to define the terms/words used in that statement or position. For example, if I said, "You and everyone like you is a sereno." Before we can debate or discuss, everyone must understand and agree on what a sereno person is. Likewise, we must agree on what a father is before we can address whether God is or is not the father of every human being.

1. If we define father as the natural human father of a typical human child, then God is not the father of anyone.

2. If we define father as the supernatural deity that was a contributor to the birth of a unique human being that is both human and divine, then God is the father of one such child.

3. If we define father as the individual who takes care of a child as would a typical protector with a heart and an assignment to provide for and protect, then any and every man who fulfills that task is the child's father. The Bible is clear that God is NOT fulfilling that role for every person on Earth. Thus, God is not the father of every person in that way.

4. If we define father as the creator and sustainer of all human life, then God is the father of everyone.

5. If we define father as - God, who has accepted into his family every person that has placed his or her faith in the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ's death and resurrection and come to God for salvation, then God is the father of such children. Today we call such people Christians.

The problem with debating the statement, "The Fatherhood of God," lies not in the question but in the vagueness of the definition of what a father is. If a person defines "Fatherhood of God" as God being obligated to allow every human being to live with Him in heaven for eternity, that is an errant definition of God as Father. Just because you are a human being does not mean God owes you (or me) a thing. Spending eternity in the presence of God is not the reward or being born physically, but the result of being born spiritually. This is what the Bible calls "born again." Read John Chapter Three.

One of the biggest lies from the pits of Hell is that God owes it to every human being to give them eternity with Him on the basis that God is the creator and sustainer of all human life, and as such, the life, death, payment on the Cross and resurrection of Jesus has no relevance or meaning relative to being born-again and/or a child of God. If you are part of a church, group or lodge that teaches that, -- run, run, run. Run away from and stay away from it. You are on the edge of or in the middle of a demonic church, group or lodge. Only the devil teaches the Fatherhood of God in that way. Many lodges, sad to say, lie to their local members about what their lodge actually stands for. The lie incorporates whatever lie best facilitates that lodges' growth within a particular religious society/environment. Do not believe what your local lodge leader tells you that your lodge teaches about the Fatherhood of God. Get that definition from the printed page of your lodge's organization.

I was once invited to join a lodge. I asked for the lodge's stand on the Fatherhood of God and was told that the lodges definition of the Fatherhood of God was "every born-again person, that is, all Christians." I asked if I could see that statement in print in the lodge's official documentation/literature? After an hour or so of evasive verbal attempts, the lodge leaders said, "No." I refused to join. Years later, I went to the effort of finding the answer to that question on my own. It was not easy to get! The official stand of the lodge was that God was the spiritual father of every human being and all sincere roads led to eternal life with God. That is a demonic position designed to discredit the Cross of Christ.

Rev. Joda Collins

jodacollins@aol.com

I do not claim that anyone else agrees with me.