The most famous prayer in the Christian world starts with the phrase “our Father, who art in heaven…” It is repeated millions of times a day around the world, yet I think we rarely stop to think about how unique it is. It is so familiar to us that we assume that all religions view deity the same way, but nay, nay, thrice nay I say.
ARE ALL RELIGIONS THE SAME?
In other religions, followers are asked to obey the directions of the god or gods, but not necessarily to be in a relationship with them (well, father-child relationship; Zeus had plenty of relationships). The expectation is that we will do the will of the gods or curry their favor in return for supernatural help, but we do not get to know the gods personally. In these religions, you may see God referenced as “Father” in the sense of the source of all creation, but not in the sense of an intimate familial interaction.
The Islamic take on God (Allah) as Father is a little more complicated, because Islam accepts large sections of the Old Testament and the Gospels, and certain figures/groups are referred to as “sons of God.” However there is also a section of the Quran that states, “He begetteth not, nor is He begotten.”
To my understanding (I’m not an Islamic scholar, so take it for what it is), most Muslim scholars understand this to be a direct refutation of the Christian doctrine of God as Father. God is so “other” that you can’t really know Him in that sort of way, because we are so different than He is. God is “out there,” like a distant uncle who sends you money for your graduation or a general who rewards you for good service. So typically you will see Muslim scholars argue that “Father” in the Bible is just an expression for “Almighty God.”
OUR FATHER
That is a significant difference from the Christian understanding. We are offered the chance not just to obey as a servant, but also to love and commune as a child. The emphasis is on a loving relationship, rather than just obedience to rules or whims of God. We are offered the chance to be “adopted” into the family of God. We are referred to as “heirs,” that is children that have responsibilities and blessings from the Father.
In the New Testament, you will see different terms for father, including “pater” and “abba.” Pater is similar to the English “father,” but “abba” is sometimes debated. Most often, you will hear it is something like “dada” or “daddy,” a more intimate and “child-like” term than pater. However, it’s a little more complex, specifically abba also has the idea of authority. It’s like the way a child may refer to their daddy who they trust and obey, because they know He knows what’s best. Abba is the term Jesus uses for God the father in the Garden of Gethsemane, as he’s praying and in great distress. It’s a crying out for the familiar and comforting embrace, for support. It’s also used in Romans 8, where it again has the implication of intimacy and obedience.
GOOD GOOD FATHER
Of course, the concept of God as Father is difficult for those who do not have a strong relationship with their own father. It may be soul-crushing to consider the pain or abuse that an earthly father might bring, and to think that God may be like that. You may say “if that’s God, I want nothing to do with Him.”
To you, the Bible says God will be a father to the fatherless, the perfect model of a father as they should be; not the broken and breaking, the weak and sinful, the abusive or neglectful father that you may have. We all have that deep longing to hear that one piece of wisdom or feel that comforting arm from a father. If your own father failed you, God’s arms are open for you. He can be the father you should have had.
The emphasis in the Creeds on God as Father is a reminder that we are not just pawns or robots, forced to do the will of supernatural beings lest we be smitten. Rather, God loves us. He wants us to grow and flourish and discover and mature, just as human fathers want for their children. His commands are not to test us, but are there to protect us, just as human fathers tell their own kids to not play in the street or stick forks into outlets or eat a bag of gummy bears for supper.
We obey God not because he threatens us, or because we cower in fear that we may offer the wrong sacrifices at the wrong time. We obey God because we trust Him, because he holds us in his hands and we trust his wisdom is better than ours. He is not standing with his arms folded, waiting for us to screw up so he can toss us away. He stands on the porch waiting for us to come home to him, and runs to us with his arms open.
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. – John 1:12
And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” – Galatians 4:6