Category Archives: Biblical Sexuality

I knew there was something afoul with the much celebrated “Dad Rap.” Yes, it was funny in spots. I thought the little girl hoping out of the minivan was hilarious. But something just didn’t sit well with me. My good friend, Ryan Benhase,  stepped in and scratched my itch:

Michael,

I think it’s less of an issue of feminism per se, but rather a reduction/trivialization of fatherhood. The song seems to paint a very suburban picture of fatherhood, which lacks any sense of mission. It’s a life defined by consumer…ism and devoid of any real meaning, as its primary concerns are leisure, comfort, and entertainment.

What’s missing is a sense of purpose; men are called to a mission–a mission of which fatherhood is (normally) a part–rather than merely sitting back and occupying space and time. There’s not anything wrong with the activities mentioned in the song, but fatherhood is about so much more than that; what’s absent in the song is the over-arching picture of what fatherhood looks like (especially in a theological/philosophical light).

Real fatherhood means making disciples, instructing and admonishing, catechizing and disciplining. It doesn’t just happen; it requires intentionality. With Biblical fatherhood, there’s actually a trajectory toward raising devout followers of Jesus and responsible citizens; it’s not just a tacky babysitting gig.

I think the song probably “rubs you the wrong way” because it subtly suggests that fatherhood is largely meaningless, a peculiar amusement and nothing more.

What do you think?