A dad is supposed to love and lead his family. In Christianity, fathers are called to “not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” A dad’s role is to train up children who will go out into the world and be productive member’s of society. Ultimately, the son(s) will take the mantle as the head of the family and begin to care for his father and mother.
But what happens when dad isn’t around? You get the world of today where you have generations of boys masquerading around as men. So what can we do?
Sigmund Freud says, “No one could be a man unless his father has died.”
I don’t agree that when your dad dies you just automatically become a man. Yes, when dad dies there is now a void within the family that needs to be filled. As the son it is now your decision whether you want to become a man so you can take on the role to love and lead the family.
Think about the chaos that ensues when there is no father present in a family. Compare that to the peace a family experiences when lead by a loving father.
So how do we become a man? I think the charge that King David gives to his son, Solomon, is a good start:
“So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him,” -1 Kings 2b-3a