Someone once asked me If the concept of spiritual fatherhood and sonship is biblical. I responded in the affirmative and gave several scriptures to back it up.

She asked that question probably because of several abuses she has seen or heard about how some ministers have taken this beautiful concept out of biblical order and turned it to cultic relationship and servitude.

Finding someone to submit to as a believer is very hard today. Some so called spiritual fathers defile daughters and still threaten them, abuse sons, take advantage of them and use them for their own selfish interest. In some quarters, only wealthy sons who give fat offerings are given access to fathers even if those sons are without a good christian testimony.

If you approach some people for mentoring, one of the questions you might be asked is: "What is your ministry income"? Not questions about your relationship with God and your consecration. Some may give conditions that includes tithing to them compulsorily. All these things bothers me.

One of the reasons some young ministers will stop at nothing to make money by all means is because they want to be recognized by some fathers. I know this to be true as a minister. If you have money today as a minister, someone who did not labour over you in prayers&doctrine will likely call you son and draw you close.

It is as though there are fathers for struggling sons and fathers for sons who have made it in ministry. It ought not to be so. Also, the way some fathers deify themselves and stealthly demand 'worship' is worrisome. Heard of a man people crawl on their knees to approach. Jesus did not demand that from his disciples.

In the bible, fatherhood in ministry primarily was for discipleship into Christlikeness and accountability. It was a relationship between a man with depth( not necessarily height) and a son willing to grow spiritually and become rooted. It wasn't servitude neither was it cult following.

1 Timothy 1:2 "To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord".

The pastoral epistles(1&2 Timothy&Titus) are three good books that exemplifies what fatherhood&sonship relationship look like. You'll see how a true father(Paul) instructed his sons( Timothy&Titus) in the ways of the Lord&how they should conduct themselves as ministers.

What a true spiritual father desires to see in his children is the formation of Christ in their lives: "Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives"(Galatians 4:19 NLT).

True spiritual fatherhood&sonship is not cult following like we have today in some quarters.  We must be careful not to misrepresent this beautiful concept to the upcoming generation so they won't form a 'cult' in the church.

You have no business submitting to a father who is only interested in your money but not your soul. If that relationship is not discipling you to be like Christ and making you accountable for godliness, you are under the wrong father.