A couple of days ago, I finished the book Before Amen by Max Lucado, and when I added it to my Goodreads read shelf, I decided to glance at a few of the reviews. The first review I read rated the book three stars, and the preacher's wife who wrote it explained that her main issue with the book came from the admonition to go to Our Heavenly Father and refer to Our Mighty God as Daddy. She and all the folks who replied to her review agreed that it felt wrong to do that, and that it didn't show God nearly enough reverence. I saw that word "reverence" repeatedly. So I thought about it for most of the rest of the day, and I came to the sad conclusion that these folks have missed it.
The idea seems to be that one can’t use the word Daddy for a father with reverence. Is it disrespectful to address a father as anything but father? Obviously, that depends on the family and the father. In some formal households that would be the case, but I don’t think any of my friends have respectfully addressed their make parent as father that I have heard. Respect isn’t always about the word. Father is formal. Dad is informal. Daddy is informal and juvenile or even childish. But they can all be respectful or disrespectful depending on tone and usage. When a friend upset with being told he had to do something and his father threatened punishment if it wasn’t done then and right and he answered, “Yes Father,” with sarcasm and disdain in his voice and an eye roll for me to see, that was disrespect. If he’d said, “Sure Dad,” with the right attitude it would have been respectful.
It’s our attitude that determines our respect more than the words we choose. There is nothing disrespectful about being close and familiar with a father. The Bible clearly shows an intimate relationship between Jesus and the Father, despite the fact that contrary to popular opinion, Abba did not mean Papa or Daddy. Abba was the only word available for Father in the Aramaic of the time and region, so it probably ran the range from sounding formal and distant to informal and childish and respectful to disrespectful all depending on usage and tone. We are God’s children, told to come as little children. In today’s language and common understanding, a father is the one who sired but is distant, while a dad is someone that is there for his children. A dad watches and actively participates in their lives. A dad helps them grow up, raises them, and nurtures them. That may not be your understanding, but that is how most Americans see it today. In that situation it is hard to show closeness while using the address of Father, and Daddy is simply the more child-like expression of Dad.
What about reverence? There are many examples of reverence, but the one we seem stuck on is that due a mighty king. So, imagine with me a mighty but loving king on a glorious throne. His subjects enter His court, along with some visitors from foreign lands. They stop talking. No one speaks without being spoken to. They all bow the knee to this man and revere Him. They are there to seek help, because the enemies of the kingdom have gathered at the gates and threaten to destroy the kingdom and its inhabitants.
The queen, the king's bride, enters with a four-year old little boy in her arms. He squirms out of her arms and begins running across the court yelling, "Daddy! There's horses and men out the gates! They look mean!" The king scoops the young prince into his arms and whispers, "Shh. It's OK. Now be quiet. Daddy's busy."
The boy sits in his father's lap and listens as dignitaries and ambassadors come before the throne, bow and in eloquent and carefully chosen words both request the aid of the king and express their doubt that even all mighty king's men and horses will be able to handle this foe. The prince is obedient in his silence as long as he can be, but finally he's had enough. After one more person says, "Oh mighty King, defender of the helpless, ruler over us all, you surely must realize that the opposing ruler is as dangerous as he is vicious and evil, and we are in dire trouble!" the boy can stand it no longer.
"No, we're not in trouble! My Daddy can do anything! He can win this battle without even getting tired!" The king smiles and chuckles at the boy's confident faith. The onlookers gasp. As do we as we think of the scenario.
But that's what we're supposed to do. Remember that we are the little princes and princesses, not barely tolerated subjects of visitors. Run to Him. Throw ourselves into His arms. Yes, He is mighty. Yes, He is King. But He's also our Daddy. My Daddy can fix anything! My Daddy can do anything! My Daddy's got this. Who in the above scene truly showed reverence, complete awe, worship and respect for the king? The boy. I'm not scared, my Daddy can beat this enemy, quiet this storm, supply.......
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