Identify and Destroy > The Ignorance Obstacle

Since launching our Identify and Destroy eBook, we’ve already had over a thousand of you download it. This is exciting considering our mission is to help you raise the next generation of godly men. In this post of Identify and Destroy, we look into the Ignorance Obstacle we face as dads.

If you’re like most of our readers, you’re a father and you’re a Christian. You’re committed to your work, your wife, and you’re present in your child’s life. Beyond all of this, we want you engaged and intentional about the spiritual development of your child. We want you to feel confident saying: I am intentionally discipling my child.

Now, trust us, if you’re going to be intentional, you’re going to face obstacles.

Let’s review the 6 most common obstacles EVERY dad faces:

1. The Ignorance Obstacle > “I didn’t know it was my job.”
2. The Inertia Obstacle > “I don’t know where to start.”
3. The Delegation Obstacle > “I’ll let someone else do it.”
4. The Guilt Obstacle > “Who am I to talk?”
5. The Procrastination Obstacle > “I’ve got plenty of time.”
6. The Despair Obstacle > “My kid’s too far gone.”

Let’s talk about The Ignorance Obstacle. In this post, we’ll cover how it sounds, how it interferes, how to remove it and how Scripture can help us.

How It Sounds

The ignorance obstacle sounds like this: “I didn’t know it was my job!”

Have you ever thought other people had the responsibility for your child’s spiritual development? Maybe some of these great folks come to mind:

• The committed minister or youth pastor at your church
• Those educated teachers at your child’s school
• The talented summer camp counselor
• That loving wife of yours

These wonderful resources may be committed, educated, talented, and loving. But, they are not replacements for you, dad. They are resources and reinforcements, but they’re not you. You are the one and only father to your kids.

Maybe you suffer from “Drop-Off Dad Syndrome”. Have you ever said or thought?

I make money, try to be a decent husband, and I get involved in activities with my kids. But, as for their spiritual development, I expect my pastor to give them direction; the teacher to give them knowledge; and my spouse to shape their character. I just can’t do that with all the other stuff on my plate. Hey, at least I’m not just sitting back and letting the internet raise them.

We can find ourselves at the place where we believe our only discipleship duty is to drop our kids off at right spots, with the right people, for the right amount of time. All of this can be good and fine. But, let’s not confuse it with biblical fatherhood. Biblical fatherhood has a different reference point. He may do any number of these things from week to week, but he understands the bigger picture and keeps that frame of reference in mind as he shepherds his son.

How It Interferes

Maybe you weren’t discipled by your father, so you have no reference point. Despite your shallow well of experience to draw from, you have to man up and figure it out. God does not give us a free pass just because our earthly parents were off the mark. We must take responsibility for what we can and move forward.

How to Remove It

1) Become aware: The simple act of knowing can help dramatically. Now that we know we’re supposed to do it, let’s get busy.
2) Avoid self-pity: It’s tempting, once we see this for the first time, to wallow in what we didn’t have. Resist becoming the victim.
3) Find mentors: Find guys who are already doing what you need to do and learn from them.

How Scripture Helps
Listen, my sons, to a father’s discipline; and pay attention so that you may gain understanding, for I am giving you good instruction. Don’t abandon my teaching. —Proverbs 4:1-2

How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. —Psalm 1:1-2

Now that we know how The Ignorance Obstacle sounds, how it interferes, how to remove it and how Scripture helps, we can get at the work of becoming a great dad. We’ll unpack more obstacles in following posts, so be sure to join us by grabbing your eBook Identify and Destroy. We can walk together on this journey.