By Bishop Martin Wilson

I’m not even going to lie… I was scrolling through my Kindle the other day, looking at some of the material I used to feed my spirit—and I tried to open one of those books on “spiritual sonship”… man listen…

I could not even stomach it.

Not because I am against sonship—let me be clear on that. I believe in covering. I believe in mentorship. I believe in spiritual fathers.

But what we have been calling “fathering” in some spaces… has not truly been fathering at all.

We are in a season right now where many of these so-called “fathers” are really lions that try to devour their young— Control them. Silence them. Keep them small. Keep them dependent.

And the reality is…

They end up toothless and powerless anyway.

Because anything built on control will eventually collapse when people awaken.

Let me say it plainly—

We are no longer in a season where dominant hierarchy functions like: 👉 “I am over you… you are under me… do not question me… do not grow beyond me…”

That season is passing away.

What God is raising now is different.

It is not domination… it is alignment. It is not control… it is connection. It is not “you need me to survive”… it is we grow together.

Real leadership today looks like partnership.

I lead because you trust me to lead. Not because I demand submission. Not because I control access. Not because I attempt to sit in God’s place in your life.

And let’s be honest…

The moment a leader requires a level of submission that replaces God in your life…

That is not fathering—that is idolatry with a title.

A true spiritual father should point you toward God… not position himself as God’s replacement.

You should not have to shrink to stay connected. You should not have to silence your growth to remain “loyal.” You should not have to diminish your voice just to keep someone comfortable.

Healthy sonship does not suffocate… it strengthens. It does not control… it cultivates. It does not create dependency… it develops you.

Now let me speak to those who call themselves sons…

Because this is not one-sided.

Commitment still matters.

Honor still matters.

Consistency still matters.

You cannot claim sonship and then disappear when correction comes. You cannot claim covering and then become distant when you are challenged. You cannot receive from a voice but resist accountability from that same voice.

Real sons do not just stay when it is comfortable… They stay when it stretches them.

But at the same time…

A real son must be able to be honest.

Not rebellious. Not disrespectful. But honest.

Because honesty builds trust… and silence builds distance.

If you cannot speak truth in the relationship, then something is off in the structure.

And hear me clearly—

Do not be a King Saul.

Saul had position… but could not handle truth. He had authority… but was threatened by growth. He was anointed… but insecure.

And instead of evolving… he tried to control what God was raising next.

That spirit still exists today.

Leaders who cannot be questioned… Leaders who take honesty as betrayal… Leaders who confuse loyalty with silence…

But sons… you cannot become Saul either.

You cannot dishonor, disconnect, and then justify it as “growth.” You cannot rebel and call it “God told me.” You cannot avoid accountability and still expect covering.

There has to be maturity on both sides.

We are growing out of that old system.

And some are uncomfortable… because they cannot control what God is maturing.

But I would rather walk in a relationship where there is trust, growth, and mutual respect…

Than remain under something that feeds on me just to feel powerful.

And if we are being honest…

Some people are not upset that you changed…