Die noodsaak van Skrifgefundeerde vaderskap as antwoord op die voortslepende probleem van vaderafwesigheid in Suid-Afrika

Abstract

The absence of any parent in a family system causes a vacuum with respect to the parenting role and it affects the family's ability to function effectively. In the South African context father absence is on the increase and it frequently generates problems such as broken families, undesirable and aggressive behaviour among children, single parenting, financial and social problems as well as poverty. The role of the father and his physical presence are of utmost importance in the life of children because his fatherhood role contributes to the child's cognitive development and intellectual functioning. The author views this problem of father absence as a matter of seriousness and concern, thus the cry for the Bible as a possible solution. In this article it appears and becomes clear that a Sola Scriptura policy is being used. The article therefore focuses on Biblical truth and departure points from literature to highlight the importance of fatherhood. Scripture is not just an authoritative source of teaching, correction and admonition but also serves as an exceptional guideline and measure that speak of the uniqueness of God as Father, while presenting answers regarding the worth of an earthly father within a family system. OPSOMMING: In enige gesinsisteem veroorsaak die afwesigheid van 'n ouer 'n vakuum in die ouerskapsrol en die gesin se vermoë om doeltreffend te funksioneer word nadelig geaffekteer. Vaderafwesigheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks is aan die toeneem en veroorsaak dikwels probleme soos gebroke gesinne, ongewenste en aggressiewe gedrag onder kinders, enkelouerskap, finansiële, sosiale en maatskaplike probleme asook armoede. In die gesin is die rol van 'n vader en sy fisiese teenwoordigheid van kardinale belang vir kinders omrede sy vaderskapsrol bydra tot die kognitiewe ontwikkeling en die intellektuele funksionering van die kind. Die skrywer beskou hierdie probleem van vaderafwesigheid as 'n saak van erns en bekommernis en daarom die hulpgeroep na die Skrif as moontlike oplossing. Dit blyk duidelik te wees dat in hierdie artikel van 'n Sola Scriptura-beleid gebruik gemaak word. Die artikel fokus dus op Bybelse waarhede en vertrekpunte uit die literatuur om die belangrikheid van vaderskap uit te lig. Die Skrif is nie net 'n gesaghebbende bron vir onderrig, teregwysing en vermaning nie, maar is ook 'n uitsonderlike riglyn en maatstaf wat insig gee in die uniekheid van God as Vader en wat antwoorde bied oor die waarde van 'n aardse vader binne 'n gesinsisteem.