Kingdom Come

The (in my view) phenomenally relevant television show Breaking Bad demonstrates this concept to a society that has lost touch with this reality when the quintessentially rebellious teenager Jesse, despite his natural disinclination for submission to authority, apprentices himself to an obnoxious high school teacher in order to gain power from him. In the process he learns to shut up and listen to instruction.

The ancient definition of father was not exclusively or even essentially sperm donor, or even head of a family, but absolute authority within a social group.

• “Jabal was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.” Think primary food providers, like the ranchers in the American West 
• ‘Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. (Genesis 4:20-22) the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals…to give thanks and to praise the LORD. (I Chronicles 25:1-3)

The quintessential meaning of fatherhood was authority over life and death.

Anthropologist Laila Williamson notes that “Infanticide has been practiced on every continent and by people on every level of cultural complexity, from hunter gatherers to high civilizations. Rather than being an exception, it has been the rule.”

If this sounds barbaric, consider how common it is for parents to terminate a child’s life in modern American society. One in five pregnancies – 20% – ended in abortion in 2020,

The extended family is still the government today in societies with a long history of stable clan membership, such as in the Middle East and Africa, where human rights and provision of needs are not provided by unstable national governments, but by the head of the clan / the Father.

The status of the mother, be she wife, concubine, or harlot did not determine the legitimacy of a child, only acceptance by the father into his family –

And just so, in this legal cultural process, was Jesus acknowledged by Joseph despite being conceived by Mary prior to having intercourse with him, and bequeathed his inheritance as the son of David, rightful King of Israel.

A man could even adopt a foreign slave as his son and make him his begotten son / heir, as was Abram’s intention towards his steward, Eliezar of Damascus. This was as clearly understood as the process of illegal aliens being granted citizenship in the U.S. is today.

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh…being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world…are made nigh by the blood of Christ…For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” (Ephesians 2)

The ultimate authority of a father is spiritual power over eternal life. It is not only the biblical concept of fatherhood. but is inherent in all ancient and contemporary religious clans in which eternal life is achieved by being accepted into the nation / family by the God-father. If this sounds like joining the Mafia that’s exactly right.

We can most easily understand this absolute authority aspect of fatherhood over group members in Catholic priests who have authority to grant membership, to absolve from wrong-doing, either to send to hell or to grant life eternal.

Even in Protestant Christianity there is a concept of spiritual father as Elder. 

Islam has the equivalent titles of Sheikh and Imam like Abdullah Azzam, “the father of the modern global jihad”, whose directives are carried out to the death by the deeply devout. 

Spiritual power, as energy, is as real as material substance, therefore sentient spirit beings were acknowledged to control blessings and curses over mankind. Human rulers / authorities / fathers simply channeled the spirit of the hyperdimensional El / Power.

“And Joseph said unto his brethren…God…hath made me 

• a father [absolute authority] to Pharaoh,
• and lord of all his house,
• and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 45:4-8)

“And the king of Israel said unto Elisha…My father, shall I…?

And [Elisha] answered, Thou shalt not.” (II Kings 6:21-22)

I can hear the knee-jerk reaction of contemporary social activists decrying the tyranny of an authoritarian Father system.

But there is a flip side to righteous absolute authority and that is absolute responsibility for the wellbeing and protection of the vulnerable members of the extended family / clan, meeting all essential needs of food, shelter, protection and life itself from newborns to the aged.

From NPR, not a Christian advocacy group.

A U.S. Department of Education study…found 39 percent of students, first through 12th grade, are fatherless. Fatherlessness is growing, and the correlations with any number of risk issues are considerable.

Children are four-times more likely to be poor if the father is not around.

Seven out of 10 high school dropouts are fatherless.

Girls are twice as likely to suffer from obesity without the father present. They’re four-times more likely to get pregnant as teenagers.

20 percent of white fathers are absent in their children’s lives, 31 of Hispanics, 57 percent of African-Americans.

Children growing up without a father are more than twice as likely to commit suicide.

More than half of incarcerated females came from a father-absent home. Youths who never had a father living with them have the highest incarceration rates 

It is only when we understand this ancient but not extinct concept of fatherhood that we can grasp what is meant when the Bible defines Abraham as the Father of the extended human family / clan of New Testament believers.

“What shall we say then that Abraham our father…hath found?...what saith the scripture?

Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness...

What did he believe? Not in the law of Moses, or the name of Jesus Christ.

How was it then reckoned? when he was in…uncircumcision…that he might be the father of all them that believe…through the righteousness of faith…which is of the faith of Abraham...before him whom he believed, even [CREATOR] God, who quickeneth brings to life the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” (Romans 4)

Our faith in life after death is based on our faith in the Singular Creator God’s power to give life, not just once, but as many times as it takes.

The spiritual / empowerment aspect of fatherhood is most apparent in the process of a child’s entitlements, rights and privileges as a son or daughter being established not by the fact of physical generation but through election / choice granted solely at the discretion of the father.

• It is not enforced by any outside authority on legal or genetic bonds, but
• publicly conferred, like knighthood by the head of the family,
• usually after some public demonstration by the child confirming shared spirit or vitality, 
• and as a maturing adult in executing the father’s will.

“begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Luke 3:8-9)

Abraham is the father / authority of all who believe, like him, in the life-giving power of God including through resurrection of the dead, because he proved that God is true and faithful.

God does not initiate us into a religious club with a set of rules and practices that elevates us to a higher status than other people.

God invites us to engage in relationship with him and his family. When we love someone, our behaviors are based on what brings us into a closer relationship with them, becoming more and more like each other. The guidelines and boundaries that make for a loving relationship with God and the members of his family are written down for us to follow to ensure our own protection, and enhance our growth and development within the family.

“ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but...of the household of God;” (Ephesians 2:19)

What this means in terms of fatherhood and brotherhood can only be found in the foundational scriptural documentation as referenced above. Having already established that Abraham is “our” spiritual father, then his spiritual way of life is what guides the household of God.

The relationship of the “household” one to another means multiple siblings accomplishing tasks originally assigned to others of God’s sons through the Singularity’s unity in diversity.

“a still small voice…when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him…And the LORD said unto [Elijah], Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, 

• anoint Hazael to be king over Syria [this project was accomplished by Elijah’s spiritual son]:
• And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel[this project was also accomplished by Elijah’s spiritual son]:
• and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room / place i.e. heir / spiritual son. (I Kings 19:13-16)

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5-6)

“this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias / Elijah?…And he answered…[but Jesus said] IF ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears, let him hear.” (John 1:19-24, Matthew 11:14-15)