Christians can be born again and not walk as sons and daughters of God. An orphan spirit undermines much of our walk with the Lord. But an understanding of our positions as sons and daughters of God is an inheritance that we cannot overvalue.  The following series of articles express the great need we have to step into our identity as sons of God.

On Sonship (Part I)

On Sonship (Part II)

On Sonship (Part III)

On Sonship (Part IV)

On Sonship (Part V)

On Sonship (Part VI)

On Sonship (Part VII) 

Photo Credit (From Left to Right, Top to Bottom): Mareike by eflon, Father and Daughter by apdk, Hug by popofatticus, and Sun, Son, and Dad by lovelypetal.

Last week, I began a conversation on sonship that you can read here.

Before we go too far, I want to make sure I frame this conversation in the right perspective. Most of what I hear taught on sonship in the body of Christ focuses on us understanding our position as an object of affection. And I whole-heartedly agree that good dads love their kids. We must understand God as our loving Father.

But there is a whole other side of sonship that I think has been lost to our generation. Sonship also has a set of priviledges and a whole different set of responsibilities. So, yes, you are a beloved son of God the Father. And that means you get all of the love and affection you can handle (and probably more than you can handle, because, hey, it’s God’ we’re talking about). But you are also going to enter into a realm of priviledge and responsibility that very few understand, because our society is not very good at raising up sons.

This realm of thinking must be explored because we are at a very dangerous place as a society and a church. Young men and women who have never been well-fathered are beginning to assume leadership roles in business and society. Believers who have been told they are only the object of the father’s affection are quickly becoming spiritual parents, but know little of the responsibility that comes with the title. A whole generation of fatherless and poorly fathered individuals are being tasked with becoming fathers and we must shift our thinking before we begin leading with an orphan mindset.

Photo Credit: Sun, Son, and Dad by lovelypetal