Greetings brethren,
                        
This Sunday is designated as Father's Day, but how should we view this American custom?  Is keeping Father's Day adequate to fulfilling the 5th commandment of honoring fathers and mothers?

Most customs in the United States are based on materialism and commerce.  Much money is spent on Mother's and Father's Day celebrations.  $12.5 Billion is spent on fathers and over $20 Billion is spent on mothers.  I think this is unfair:-)   Just kidding.

However, is expression of honor what God has in mind with the 5th commandment?  Did He not desire we honor our parents by respecting the values they passed on to us?   The concept of honoring parents very likely stems anciently from the commandments  God thundered to Israel at Mt. Sinai.  
                                        
Why did God make this commandment a part of the decalogue?  Was it not for the purpose of pointing God's people to the heavenly Father?  Jesus Christ came to reveal the Father in Heaven, and He said, "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me."  (Jn 5:30)

Jesus came honoring His Father from the beginning of His early ministry.  He said in Matt. 12:50 (NKJV) "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

 In order to be in the same family with Jesus Christ we must honor the Father in Heaven.  We must embrace godly values like Abraham and Sarah did when they were the only ones obeying God besides Lot is Sodom.  

So to honor our parents is to honor what they have taught us if what they have passed on is godly Christian values.  Sometimes this is not the case if one is a family of first-generation Christians, but it is often so with the 2nd and additional generations in the Church of God.
                                                    
My wife grew up in the Church, but I didn't. However my mother and father believed and taught me many godly values.  They did not believe in divorce, lying, stealing, adultery, fornication, or dishonoring God.  I appreciate what they gave to me.  If we truly desire to honor our fathers and mothers, honor those Biblical values they passed on to us!      

The Apostle Paul addressed this unusual dichotomy of life in Romans 2:14-15 when he wrote, "for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)"     

It also provides all of us hope when the 2nd Resurrection comes our parents, who were never a part of God's church will readily accept those things of the law of God which they never understood.  Respecting what they believed and knew and passed on to us is a way we can honor our parents now.                
                      
Sincerely in Christ,

Jim Tuck                                                       
Pastor