Can a Christian celebrate Father's Day?

I am catholic, as those who read regularly know, but not in communion with Rome. Even so, in the episcopal world I currently live in, the title, Father, is frequently used. I am called "Father Jeff." This is most distressing to a certain subset of other-thinking Christians. As I have heard from these (distressed) fellow Christians, Jesus says call no man father so the catholics (Roman and Anglo-) are disobeying Jesus. One great irony is if a Sunday School teacher is the one who taught them this.

Briefly, in Mt 23:1-36, Matthew has an extended version of Mk 12:37-40. The concern is the Pharisees, but Mt includes not just a general warning but a far more indepth attack by Jesus. [As a side bar, I am often challenged by church members for being "too hard." When one reads Mt 23 the worry about being too hard fades away and is supplanted by the worry I am "too soft." Jesus, whatever else He may  be, is not particularly nice all the time.] when one looks at the Parallel Gospel one finds Mt parallels Lk in places, but there are some sections which are unique to Matthew. Without getting too much into the technicalities of sources, lets just say that the church in Matthew retained and wrote information not found elsewhere. This includes the concern today: call no man father. It also says, call no man teacher. For some reason, no Christians ever seem bent out of shape about that one. Here is why. A simple syllogism.

• Catholics call their priest "Father"
• We (Protestant) don't
• We aren't Catholic.
• Therefore we can quote Scripture to correct their error.
• we call our Sunday school teachers, teachers
• surely that is okay
• so we will ignore it
• therefore, we will really focus on the 'call no one father' part of the Gospel

This is my, perhaps cynical, I would like to think it insightful, assumption of what takes place. But it squares up the problem clearly. Jesus forbids the use of both titles. And he does not limit it to the church. No father except God means just that. Not religious surrogate fathers. Fathers. Period. So this is much bigger than priest's titles. It goes to the heart of the paternal role in the family.

Today we honor fathers. Some, like me, have buried their dad. It is a sad day (IF we think about it too much). On the other hand, I am a dad. So technically this is my big day. We'll see how that unfolds.... If Jesus is to be taken literally, today is an abomination. It is disregarding Jesus' command. This leads to further reflection. Jesus actually speaks 'against' the ties of biological families on several occassions. We, today, do not have the close family ties of the Ancient Near East. Family, clan and tribe were the source of identity in ways which individualistic Americans can not fathom. (Not saying it is better or worse, just different). Everything Jesus said was spoken in that context (not ours). This is a topic worthy of a book so forgive my stunted reflection. What I will say is this: Part of Kingdom thinking is radically turning things upside down. It is a reminder that this (fallen) world is at enmity with God. Our (pseudo-) virtues and values are tainted by the (sin) process of our thinking and acting. Even good things are disordered. Jesus is striking the root when He reminds us of the centrality of God. We do not get it, so He says amazing, confusing things like "call no man father (or teacher)" to shock us into insight. GOD is God. God alone is God. We need to remember that.

Can a Christian celebrate father's day. I think yes. I will do it today as I have in the past. Can a priest be "father"? Once more, I think yes. The title goes back to Paul (who used the term to describe his relationship with his flock) and was widespread since the early church. Like all things religious it is dangerous, but the issue is the heart. And titles like "brother" or "reverend" are no less liable of abuse. In the end, it is our hearts that are messed. We do well to meditate on Jesus word, before, during and after celebrating the gift of our fathers. A gift from God, the only true Father.