Are Church Father's Day Events a Waste of Time?

Many churches invest a great deal of time and money into special holiday events that are designed to draw people into their services, but statistics show that Father's Day is one holiday in which church attendance is typically less than impressive. So is it a waste of time, money and energy for churches to host big Father's Day events?

In the week leading up to Mother's Day, Lifeway Research released the results of a survey in which they asked 1,000 Protestant pastors across the U.S. to indicate which three Sundays their church attendance is highest each year.

While Mother's Day (59 percent) ranked third on the list behind only Christmas (84 percent) and Easter (93 percent), Father's Day was ranked last. With just four percent of pastors saying it was one of their highest attendance Sundays, Father's Day was ranked below the Fourth of July (four percent), Friend Day (14 percent), Homecoming (16 percent) and "Other" (26 percent).

"The attendance difference between Mother's Day and Father's Day is telling. Either churches are less effective in affirming fathers, or families believe Christian fathers don't value their participation in worship services," Scott McConnell, director of LifeWay Research, said in a statement.

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jen

I can say from my husband his deal with church is the turn men "girly " hes always saying he doesnt want to be a wussy church guy. He loves Jesus thats not the issue but church is totally more relatable to women. Most dads go because mom wants to. Gear the church toward being a strong leader and fighter of darkness youll bring the dads back in
- Evermyrtle
  
  There was a time when it was a great honor to be a Christian Father working with the Mother to feed, clothe and raise his children to be Patriot Christians, to love GOD, Parents, all of GOD'S people and Country, and usually in that order, What has happened to America?? What has happened that we wonder if Father's day, just one day in the year is in line to honor Fathers.
  
  Expenses? I have never been in a church that spent a lot of money to honor Dad. We just had a Father's day program.
  This article is crass and mind boggling!!!!!
  
  How I wish I still had a father and the father of my children that I could honor
  - Evermyrtle
    
    I forgot to mention our FATHER IN HEAVEN which does get mention in some churches as the beginning of 'FATHERS!"
    One over the entire world, and the other watching over his family.
- Scott Todd
  
  If you're ever in the Mpls./St. Paul area, it's worth a drive up to the far NE suburb of Forest Lake. Maranatha Assembly of God tailors its approach to people such as your husband. God honoring, gun totin', drag racing and biker type men.
- Hurricane
  
  Hey Jen,
  
  Real men are Catholic. The Church has been turning men into knights in shining armor to fight the spiritual warfare of this world since day 1. All are called to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Amen.
sbrin

"The attendance difference between Mother's Day and Father's Day is telling." A big reason for this, probably the main reason, is because Father's Day is in June, which is vacation month for a lot of families.
Kalev

We are to Honor our mothers and fathers but no where does the Bible command us to make a "holiday" of any type other that the seven Holy Feasts YHVH commands, which is delineated in Leviticus chapter 23, Yeshua (Jesus) kept them all. People need to come out of those pagan influenced Sunday churches and worship the LORD our God in Spirit and Truth per the Bible.
- Evermyrtle
  
  But one of the ten Commandments does say "Honor thy father and mother and that is what we are doing on Fathers day and on Mothers Day
- wesley
  
  Christ is our Sabbath rest. He rose from the grave on Sunday and the church was meeting in Sundays in the New Testament. the Old Testament feasts are shadows of what we find in Christ. Passover is replaced by Good Friday for Christ was the God's true passover lamb that takes away the sins of the world. Christ rose from the grave the first Easter Sunday. Pentecost of the OT puts to the birthday of the church on that first Pentecost Sunday. Yom Kipper is replace for Christ is our atoning sacrifice.
- Evan
  
  No where in the bible does it tell us to brush our teeth either. But it's probably a good idea. The bible doesn't tell us specific ways in which we are to "honor" them, and when scripture is silent on an issue, we as believers are given our free will and good judgement. The bible does tell us that when scripture is silent on an issue, we as brothers & sisters are not to be "contentious" regarding each others choices. So…
  Evan
  - Evermyrtle
    
    I have not been able to find that scripture and would love to have it, where is it?
    - msjallen
      
      Proverbs 21:19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
      Proverbs 26:21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
      Proverbs 27:15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
      Romans 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
      1 Corinthians 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
    - aceituna
      
      1 Corinthians, chapter 8
victorbarney

QUESTION? If Hebrew is the ONLY INSPIRED SPIRITUAL LANGUAGE(Zeph. 3:9, Acts 26:14, & 1 Cor. 4:6), how can YOU VALIDATE the name "JESUS," a name that EVEN CAN NOT BE TRANSLATED into Hebrew as commanded to prove all things, which is ONLY through SCIENTIFIC DEDUCTION as COMMANDED IN THE NEW COVENANT by 2 PETER 1:20? 2. Did YOU also KNOW that in the 1300's in Rome Pope Leo the 10 asked his Church pilosopher, Petrus Galatinus, to change the name of the Jewish Messiah, Yahshua, meaning in Hebrew "Yahweh means salvation") to a name the honored "ZEUS" because it ALWAYS WAS THE TRADITION OF the ROMAN EMPIRE TO HONOR THE HIGHEST DEITIES OF THOSE NATIONS THAT THEY HAD DEFEATED, GREECE BEING THE LAST! This IS ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN BY THE OLD HEBREW COVENANT BY WHICH WE ARE COMMANDED TO PROVE ALL THINGS BY DEUCTION & NEVER BY INDUCTION! Just asking?
- Kenneth
  
  Victor, we can validate Jesus' name because God told Mary & Joseph to name the child JESUS……..So God himself chose the name Jesus no matter what scientific deduction is made by mere man. Stop trying to figure it out and just believe because God said it.
  - SeaDragon
    
    Try again… Jesus is the Greek version of Yeshua (also Joshua). Since the New Testament was written in Greek that is the name we get for the Son of God. If you listen to Messianic Jews they talk about Yeshua Hamaschia (my apologies for slaughtering the romanization of the Hebrew) which translates as Yeshua the Messiah (or Anointed one).
    - aceituna
      
      Yeshua means God is Salvation & Jesus mean Savior. That should tell it all.
      - Evermyrtle
        
        You tell on yourself, with these few words. GOD already knows you from the inside out but these words tell the world what you are. It is not too late to change, repent and turn around and go the right way.
- wesley
  
  your information is historically inaccurate for Pope Leo X was the pope that excommunicated Martin Luther in 1520. Pope Leo X was the pope who sold indulgences that got Luther enraged that he wrote his 95 thesis that started the reformation. using your logic about Hebrew being "the only inspired spiritual language" that would make the entire New Testament uninspired and heretical for it was all originally written in Greek.
  - victorbarney
    
    Actually, I don't care one bit about Pope Leo the X or whatever because he has NOTHING to do with anything in reality anyway! 1. Scripture can only be read through DEDUCTION, NOT INDUCTION(2 Peter 1:20). 2. The "SABBATHS SIGN" WEEKLY AND ANNUAL IS "FOREVER" & THE "ONLY SIGN" THAT IDENTIFIES HIS PEOPLE(Exodus 31:13). 3. "I do nothing without FIRST warning MY PEOPLE through the PROPHETS"(AMOS 3:7) and 4. "ELIYAH comes BEFORE YHWH"(MALA'AKI 4:5) because one CAN NOT KEEP THE COVENANT WITHOUT THE RIGHT CALENDER!. Hope that this helps you to understand where I'm coming from, but PLEASE REMEMBER: THE "SABBATHS SIGN" IS NOT SUNDAY as the FALSE CHURCH OF ROME MANUFACTURED through INDUCTION, NOT DEDUCTION as COMMANDED! You MUST prove all things from the HEBREW as COMMANDED (ZEPH. 3:9, ACTS 26:14 & 1 Cor. 4:6), not from the GREEK & ONLY THROUGH SCIENTIFIC DEDUCTION, ALSO AS COMMANDED to PROVE ALL THINGS! However, understanding takes REPENTANCE & BAPTISM BEFORE IT CAN BE GIVEN BECAUSE IT'S A SPIRITUAL THING & NOT A PHYSICAL THING! Again, hope this helped? In Yahshua's Love, Victor
    - wesley
      
      you mention Pope Leo X first. the proper names of the trinity are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as Jesus Christ told us in the Great Commission.
      Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 NKJV
      - victorbarney
        
        YOU'LL "SOON" BE PROVEN WRONG, WATCH! QUESTION? If "HEBREW" is the ONLY Spiritually inspired language as written, ZEPH. 3:9, ACTS 26:14, 1 Cor. 4:6, the LATER TWO WRITTEN IN THE GREEK, How COME THE PERSONAL NAME "JESUS" CAN NOT EVEN BE TRANSLATED INTO HEBREW, AS CLEARLY DOCUMENTED IN IT! Just saying…
    - wesley
      
      all the names of God we find in the Bible YHWH, Elohim, Adonai, El Shaddai, etc. are his way to communicate his being to us. the name we find used most in the New Testament is Father for the first person of the Trinity, Son for the second person, and Holy Spirit for the third person. this Father's Day we should remember to honor God the Father first before our biological fathers. Paul tells to call God Abba Father or Daddy.
msjallen

Our pastor just keeps on teaching the Word of God on those non-Biblical "special" days because our focus is Jesus Christ and the teaching of His Word. Christmas and Resurrection Sunday get special messages and we do honor our military by recognizing them on our Nation's special days since so many of our young people serve their country from our church. Our pastor will say happy mother's day or father's day but the emphasis continues to be the inculcation of Bible Doctrine.
- Mildred
  
  That's the church I'm looking for!
RevelationAlive

I don't believe the significance of a fathers role in a child is talked about near enough. There are over 40 scriptures addressing the fatherless – there are 0 addressing the motherless. Father's have a huge responsibility in the spiritual and emotional well being of a child into adulthood. Ask any prisoner incarcerated – my guess is 99% have a relationship with their mother but not their father. I believe there needs to be a much stronger emphasis on the role of fathers in the family.
- Evermyrtle
  
  Right On, You are 100% correct. I think that the lack respect for parents is a great part of what has happened to our country. Mothers and Fathers are part;ly responsible, they have not trained their children to respect anything, including themselves.
  We need to get back to good family relationships..
- http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
  
  How shocking when you consider that men, not women, wrote the bible. And when women tried, it was discarded immediately.
agbjr

Many churches make a very big deal about Mothers' Day but practically forget Fathers' Day. In my own church on Mothers' Day the sermons always lauds our moms, prayers are given for our moms, and ushers hand every mother a single rose as they leave the sanctuary after service. The centerpiece of the after-service coffee hour is a great Mothers' Day cake presented by the Sunday School children. On Fathers' Day there is barely an acknowledgment of the dads. I don't bother to attend anymore … I don't deal well with hypocrisy.
Esteban Cafe

Any time you honor someone for actual results produced it's a good thing. Maybe Father's Day should be more of an instructional day? I wonder: is "Fathers Day" a non-event in the US as it is in my country?
- Vladimir
  
  Pretty much. What is your country?
Marilyn Smith

Ah, a vicious circle designed by Satan. No fathers in the home, in the church or in our lives. We have not honored our Heavenly Father nor the father of our children. Likewise, our fathers have not expected anything honorable of themselves. Begin by honoring God with obedience, then we bring our homes under His authority. Maybe fathers do not live up to what we expect them to be because we haven't expected much. Cont…
- Evermyrtle
  
  Yes, we have allowed the thief, Satan into the house. He is stealing the respect for all things GODLY from the hearts from all who will allow it.
Marilyn Smith

One of the Ten Commandment begins "Honor your FATHER" and continues "that thy days may be long upon the earth.." Youths' days are growing shorter– children dying on the streets by shootings, stabbings, drugs…and the list goes on. Wake up single mothers, girlfriends ..raise your children in the Lord )…and wait until there is a father (Heavenly and earthly) in the home before having more. Wives honor your husband, even if he's not honorable. Pray will work! Husbands,fathers, first honor God then show honor by providing, protecting and guiding your family in the right direction. If your father wasn't an honorable man, be the man that makes that change…God is your example! In the RIGHT ORDER, our families, churches, schools, our world come under the authority and PROTECTION of our Heavenly Father.
Old School Patriot

Most men in this nation would rather drink beer and raise their hands in front of a TV or in a stadium on father's day, or any other Sunday rather than attend church. Men need a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ as much as women and children do, as when judgement day comes they will be held accountable for their sins before Almighty God.
The American church is partly responsible, because it has not preached the truth, but has preached a "feel good gospel".
In the bible, men are responsible for the spiritual well being for their families. It is part of their office as husband and father.
For the most part, father's day activities are probably a waste of time. The Church of Jesus needs to repent and start preaching and teaching the whole biblical truth, the full council of God. Pastors and teachers will be held accountable for the sin of omission, for not teaching the whole word of God. Preach and teach the truth, no matter how unpopular or uncomfortable it is and leave the rest to God.
Patrick

Let's be honest. The elephant in the room is that men want to take the day and go fishing or play golf or something. They see it as an opportunity to do something they want to do. They do that in the morning and then can spend Father's day with the family after they get home from church. God bless the moms.

We need more men that want to make their commitment to Christ their highest joy.
DavidE

It is up to each of us to seek God and honor him to the best of our ability. If we cannot thank God for sending his only begotten son to earth for the sole purpose of being the supreme sacrifice for humanity's sins to enable us to enter heaven and have eternal life, then we are sorry!! Going to church on holidays will not get you into heaven, Jesus is to live in our heart and be a constant part of our lives. I was a bad alcoholic and actually told folks I did not trust a person who did not drink. If there was no alcohol around, I would not go participate. I felt I had to have a beer in my hand or I could not enjoy myself. I was in the US Army for over 20 years and spent 11 years in Germany, need I say more? At the age of 60 I attended a Baptist Church and was baptised and gave up drinking, and gave my life to the Lord, thank you Lord!
- Barb
  
  Congratulations!! Keep up the good work.We see too many men take a back seat & like others have noted-want to sit in front of the TV Or drink too much or just even push their families away..very sad -satan wants to ruin families..
http://twitter.com/lambsev11 @lambsev11

Are Church Father’s Day Events a Waste of Time?

The question is a foolish one if you ask me. Why not ask what the church can do to teach and learn about fatherhood? Or at the least ask what kind of event for dads will build strength into them and into the congregation.
- wesley
  
  it takes more than just get to come, but more keep them coming. God wants us to call him Father, and everything revolves around fathers in society. the way to change society is to start by changing fathers, and the change will trickle all through society.
- Evermyrtle
  
  Great post, Lamb.
  
  For those who think it is wrong to call Daddy Father, when the Bible talks about calling nobody FATHER but GOD, it is not referring to earthly fathers, It does say :"Honor thy Father and Mother", it is talking about such as the Pope being called Father.
  
  Our "Daddies need to work to be worthy of attention and respect which is almost a lost art, but we do have many that have earned their children's respect and the deserve a day to be honored. It will help them realize how wonderful it is to be a earthly father and to be called "Daddy!"
  
  We show our fathers both earthly ones and our heavenly one toot little attention and show far too little respect, a great sign and reason that our country is on the skids.
Vladimir

In my family, Mother's Day is always nine months after Father's Day.
Joe Anzilotti

You in particular, Jeff, should be very thankful for the Crusades. They are the reason, in part, that you can be a numskull without interference from the Theocratic government which would be in place otherwise.
- http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
  
  Not really. The Christian government was also a theocratic one. Luckily, the Enlightenment occurred.