Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love & Lead Their Families
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No More Excuses
This book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishing (Booksneeze) to review. I found it difficult to work through. I have had it for a while trying to read. I found myself not always agreeing with the tone used. Father Hunger, I found not always helpful to me as a father trying to be and do what is right in raising up my children. I took offense to the male superiority language. Although not stated, I heard that we arenâÂÂt âÂÂgetting our wayâ as men of God and we should take back fatherhood. I wouldâÂÂve appreciated more the approach that we should be seeking more of a life of humility and brokenness. We have failed and we need help from God, plain and simple. Instead, retaliation against culture and feminism all around us crowded out any encouragement for me to be who I need to be.
I donâÂÂt think we can make simple excuses such as it is the result of feminism of why we arenâÂÂt being who we need to be as fathers. If anything, I have been challenged by the women in my life to be the man of God I need to be. I want my children to see their mother and the women of God He places in their lives, whether school teachers, other moms, and family members and friends, as ones leading them to be who God desires them to be. This is an opportunity that has been placed before each of us, men and women alike, to be there for our children.
I did agree with Douglas Wilson, the author, when he states, âÂÂThe right kind of surrender means that we will be open to GodâÂÂs timing. When God delays our ambitions, it is not because He is saying no, but because those delays help shape who we are becoming.â I as a father have failed in many respects with this. It is nobodyâÂÂs fault except my own. A daily surrender to GodâÂÂs work in my life enables my kids to see how much I truly trust in God and am living for Him. Honestly, I can blame all of societyâÂÂs problems concerning the family on the culture, feminism, the church or its pastor, the educational system, the government, or even my own parents, yet what needs to happen is that I daily step up and be a person who cares more about others than about myself.
Men, we need to embrace our role of fatherhood wholeheartedly and âÂÂpick it up and put it on, like a coat (199).â Let it become a part of you. Yes, it is scary and might even feel awkward at times causing us to fall down at times. But, stop making excuses and begin to believe and live for this great opportunity we have been created!
January 18, 2013
Informative and Challenging
ItâÂÂs no secret fathers are a dying breed. Not actually fathering a child but being a father. Men who have been called by God to lead their families and their children according to Scripture.
In Doug WilsonâÂÂs book Father Hunger, he addresses the call to being a father based on GodâÂÂs Word and His example as the perfect Father.
If youâÂÂre looking for a how-to on parenting, you should probably consult a different book. What I really appreciated about this book is that it pulled the precepts for being a godly father from Scripture and didnâÂÂt give step-by-step instructions. I have learned by being a father that since no two children are the same, step-by-step instructions would have to change with each child.
What really stood out to me from this book is how from page 1 Wilson has you hooked drawing on insight from the Bible. You didnâÂÂt have to read through 2-3 chapters of filler to get to good content. From the first chapter on egalitarianism, he addresses the problem of this fatherless generation and it builds from there.
I donâÂÂt always agree with WilsonâÂÂs approach. HeâÂÂs never been accused of being timid or shy. In fact heâÂÂs quite confident, bold and even a bit sarcastic at times but overall he is honest and diligent about his work. But thatâÂÂs why I like reading and listening to him.
Over all, while this book may not appeal to unbelievers or those who sit on the liberal side of the fence, it is a good,informative read for the diagnosis of a major problem in our culture.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneezeî.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade CommissionâÂÂs 16 CFR, Part 255
January 12, 2013
Great Resource for All Fathers
Three months from yesterday, IâÂÂm due to be a father. And Wilson has me pegged when he writes, âÂÂit is likely that a number of readers have felt simultaneously encouraged and overwhelmed.â (198)
In his book, Father Hunger, Wilson seeks to re-establish the âÂÂhigh callingâ of biblical fatherhood by pointing our societyâÂÂs fathers away from the aloof âÂÂsitcom-dadâ and back towards God the Father.
While this high calling of fatherhood is, at times, overwhelming, the strength of Father Hunger is in recognizing that a fatherâÂÂs strength comes from the Father. âÂÂTheology undergirds everything,â he argues, âÂÂhow we think of God the Father will drive how we think of all fathers.â (189) Therefore, Wilson contends, our cultureâÂÂs incorrect understanding and view of God the Father is the source of not just our familial but also our cultural woes (educational, vocational, financial, political, etcâ¦).
Hope in Imitation:
Wilson writes with a pointed hope which finds its foundation in the good news of Christ. âÂÂOur comfort is that the author of this great disaster story wrote Himself into the very center of that disaster, that He might carry the weight of it Himself.â (58)
Because âÂÂthe way children really follow a father is by means of imitationâ (186), we, as fathers, are to imitate God the father so our children (whether physical or spiritual) might see what He has done on our behalf (cf. 1 Cor 11:1; 1 Peter 1:16):
The hands of fathers are there for provision (which means openhanded giving), and also to protect. For the former we may read through the gospel of John again and see what the Father has done with His handsâÂÂHe gives and gives again. For the latter, we can look at the hands of Christ and see the nail prints still. (197-198)
Experienced Writing:
WilsonâÂÂs years of experience are clearly evidenced in his masterful writing. Having mastered the tools of logic and illustration, Wilson simultaneously simplifies and expands oneâÂÂs understanding of otherwise difficult-to-grasp concepts. Here he explains how treating men and women differently (as is done in a complementarian gender roles) does not diminish the value of either:
When two things are the same we tend to treat them the same. But if we treat two things the same, it does not follow that they are the same. If we found two hammers on the workbench, we wouldnâÂÂt have any trouble picking up either one of them to do the jobâÂÂbecause we intend to treat them exactly the same. But it does not follow from this that if we should treat something the same (in a legal setting) they must, therefore, be the same. A man might be called up to take care of all his tools, treating them all with the same kind of respect. But treating a hammer with respect and a screwdriver with respect means treating them differentlyâÂÂyou donâÂÂt twist screws with a hammer, and you donâÂÂt try to drive nails with the handle of a screwdriver. (6)
Concluding Thoughts:
While there are days I am overwhelmed by the practical implications of what it means to be a father, the encouragement of Father Hunger is in its dependence upon scripture and God as the only perfect father. My responsibility, then, is to seek Him firstâÂÂand make sure my children (and my wife) see me doing so.
I fully expect this book to become well-worn by the time I reach empty-nester status. I highly recommend it to future or present fathers of both physical and spiritual children (read: all men).
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I received this book as part of Thomas NelsonâÂÂs Booksneeze blog reviewer program.
December 15, 2012
What ails society? Father Hunger!
âÂÂFatherlessness is a âÂÂrot that is eating away at the modern soul,âÂÂâ according to Douglas Wilson. He did his research and listed many statistics which uphold his thoughts on how fatherlessness shows forth the symptoms of a âÂÂrottingâ society. Douglas points to examples of the âÂÂfruitâ of absent fathers in areas of faith, education, the workplace, government, poverty...as well as others.
Though I am not a man, I picked up this book because I agree that fatherlessness is one of the major ailments of our society. I was hoping to read it and pass it along to our pastor. Also, I wanted to see what someone else discerns regarding fatherlessnessâ effects. I agree with many of Douglas WilsonâÂÂs conclusions yet found the book difficult to read. I can tell he is very educated and speaks as a scholar...and not to the common man (or woman). This book would be great for a college level class (and discussion) for those in theology.
I think that this is an excellent issue to bring to the discussion table in the Christian arena. Although I agreed with much of what he said, I give this book 3/5 stars because I feel the readability is for a narrow group.
This book was given to me by Thomas Nelson Publishing (BookSneeze) in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 17, 2012
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