A Parent For All Of Us

For orphans, the journey towards emotional & spiritual wholeness can be extremely difficult. Not only must they navigate the loss of their biological parents, they must also find a way to avoid transfering their feelings of abandonment, let down, and alienation onto others and onto God. God's character is compared to the character of a good father in the Bible. What does this mean to somebody whose father has disowned them, died in their early life, or abused them? When somebody shapes their understanding of who God is, they inevitably will draw on their personal experiences of provision, authority, nurture, justice, discipline, and parental love. Inversely, when parental relationships are broken or tarnished by painful experiences or neglect, these can distort the way a person perceives God. Perhaps this is why Biblical ethics are so preoccupied with preserving family relationships, ensuring double parentage for every pregnancy, and providing care for orphans and widows. If familial love and care is the first context in which we form our concept of God, it is no wonder that God would protect his image by protecting and encouraging cohesion, mutual respect, and love within families. And where familial harmony and unity have been disrupted, God offers us opportunities to heal through forgiveness and reconcilliation. God is "a father to the fatherless" and He "places the lonely in families" (Psalm 68:5-6). Indeed, the Bible affirms that all people of every race, gender, profession, or religion are the children of God (Acts 17:26-28). When the Spirit of God is given full access to our broken hearts, the Father also becomes "ApParent" to us.

Jesus most fully shows us what God the Father is like. He said, "I only do what I see the Father doing." At the Apparent Project our highest aim is to only do what we see the Father doing, because we want Him to be apparent in all his power, love, and compassion to all the world. We want to see His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. This desire motivates all that we do, and shapes both the scope of our mission and our methods.