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in a personal God, is essentially a relationship. the father’s role here is important because it
It is thus proposed that this structure impacts creates a parallel between the earthly father and
not only earthly relationships, but also heavenly the heavenly father.
relationships. Indeed, Vitz’s hypothesis, and the
research presented in this paper both suggests Is it possible that the language of heavenly father
and demonstrates that those with the most inse- is used throughout the scripture to make this
cure form of attachment, avoidant attachment, parallel? Contrary to a sexist view of the Bible,
do trend toward not trusting in God and in- God perhaps wants the language to show the
stead turn toward nonbelief and the acceptance importance of fathers. God could have chosen
of atheism. If further research supports the cur- any term or metaphor to describe himself that
rent conclusion, then it would make sense that he wanted. He chose father. The language may
Christian parents prepare children for belief by implicitly suggest that fathers are important in
building trusting relationships with their child- the role of faith building. Research findings on
ren. The dissertation data previously referred attachment are consistent with the notion that
to (Voss, 2019) assessed several father variables this psychological foundation for a relationship
and found that when a father models a relati- with God is built through the nurturing, loving
onship with God, a protective factor emerges care of a parent, and perhaps, especially a father.
that reduces the chance that offspring will re- In summary, research by this author indicates
ject faith in favor of atheism. Modeling a rela- two strong predictors of atheism among emer-
tionship with God helps children not only trust ging adults. The first predictor is an avoidant
their father, but also trust the God of their fa- attachment style between a father and a child.
ther. The teaching of the scripture is consistent The second factor is when the father does not
with the idea of modeling a relationship with model a relationship with God.
God to one’s children. In Deuteronomy 6, God Matthew 23:13 provides further insight into
gives this instruction to his people. God’s heart when he rebukes hypocrisy. Fathers
Love the LORD your God with all your heart who do not heed the instruction of building re-
and with all your soul and with all your lationships with their children are open to the
strength. These commandments that I give same chastisement Jesus leveled at the Pharise-
you today are to be on your hearts. Impress es. Jesus said, “Woe to you teachers of the law
them on your children. Talk about them when and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the
you sit at home and when you walk along the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yoursel-
road, when you lie down and when you get up. ves do not enter, nor will you let those enter
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind who are trying to” (Holy Bible, New Internatio-
them on your foreheads. Write them on the nal Version, 1984). Though fathers may not be
doorframes of your houses and on your gates. professional teachers or clergy, they are respon-
(Deuteronomy 6:5-9, Holy Bible, New Inter- sible for teaching God’s word to their children:
national Version, 1984) They are teachers! By not forming healthy re-
Consistent with attachment theory, these verses lationships and modeling a relationship with
indicate that God desires for his people to teach God, the impact may be to shut the door to
and model the teachings of the faith. The tea- God. Jesus warns against this hypocrisy.
ching should be done as part of all aspects of The intent of this article is to not rehash my
life and throughout the day. This is experiential recent research, but only to use what was lear-
teaching and learning. It happens as life is lived ned from that research to demonstrate that
and as it is experienced through a trusting and attachment theory is an excellent theory from
loving relationship with a parent. In this con- which to do integrative work. In this I am con-
text, a child develops a secure attachment. The gruent with the conclusions of Kirkpatrick
passage in Deuteronomy does not suggest this (2005) though he comes at the topic from an
activity only be a motherly task. The behavior evolutionary perspective. Secondly, research in
described is parental and includes fathers and attachment theory within an integrative frame-
mothers. In line with the focus of this article, work allows for new understanding to biblical

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