One very important thing we must understand in this regard is that the Son came to manifest the Father. Our purpose is to manifest the Father. “Sonship” refers to the condition of being a son.
A major problem arises when someone takes the place of the Father, and this concept not only opposes everything related to “Sonship” and what it means to be a son, but also places itself in the position of the Father to protect others. This is where a strong confusion arises, and Malachi speaks of God turning the hearts of the fathers toward the children and the hearts of the children toward the fathers.
This situation gave rise to a strong movement of orphanhood because man took the place of the Father. One of the characteristics of the orphan is not only that he is a victim; for example, in the case of street children, the older brother will always try to protect the younger brother. What happens is that the orphan also rises as a father, saying, “No, I have to protect you so that you see me as your father.” This led to the movement known as the movement of fathers, where many began to refer to themselves as “fathers.” They said, “I am your spiritual father,” establishing an intermediary.
Among the children who were being formed to mature toward the Father, there emerged an obstacle that was the orphan—man taking the place of the Father. As long as the children focus on man, they will always remain as children because, deep down, there is no man who can be a true father. They can be older siblings, but they cannot replace the Father.
Thus, a strong confusion arose in the church, as men in positions of prominence began to call themselves “fathers.” It was said, “You need a father,” and this voice went directly to the orphan inside the people, to the “poor me.” Many began to say, “Oh, yes, I need a dad to hug me; I need a daddy,” and they referred to their pastor as “daddy.”
Man began to take the place of the Father when Jesus clearly said, “Do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” This brought a terrible misfortune because those who could have been raised as sons remained in a state of childhood, looking to man.
We are transformed into the Father, as stated in 2 Corinthians 3:18: “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image.” Therefore, we are transformed into His very image. Those who can see in this dimension of the spirit, who enter to see the glory of God, seek to be transformed into the image of the Father; they are transformed into His image. The Father transforms the children into His image.
When man takes the image of the Father, the children become the image of man, and this is a tragedy that has killed the life of the church.
Blessings beloved
Ana Mendez Ferrell