Please understand, all of you, that the pronouns I choose to use are based on scholarly disciplines. In Progressive Christianity, pronouns for God have been neutered almost completely. We use he/she etc in an effort to make the MESSAGE of the scripture applicable to all. I myself refer to God as my father. However, there are many women and men out there whose childhood picture of father is not so positive. To refer only to MALE gender in talking about God is to leave out a good deal of society that need to hear the message of God. Be assured I will never refer to Jesus as anything but a man. I encourage you to open your hearts a bit to inclusive language. God has many attributes that are both masculine and feminine. You do not have to be a full fledged feminist to see that God basically has NO SEXUAL IDENTITY, beyond the fact that the scriptures were written, we assume through study, by MEN and NOT WOMEN. It really is kind of interesting to look at different passages of scripture through different lenses. (feminist, queer, economic, anthropological etc.) Different gender references are simply an attempt to fully understand who God is. In the meantime...don't forget that God is pleased with all of our questioning. I believe that God smiles every time I write and often giggles every time you read these posts. So in HIS/HER/DIVINE/HOLY ONE name we live out the truth beyond the facts.
Blessings...Greg
Hey, Brother Greg....My God is my father and he made man in his image and then made woman out of a man's rib so that's enough for me!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHE, SHE, IT, WE, THEY,....Who cares ? Whatever the gender, I'm just so glad for the GRACE!
Keep getting us those "A" s LOVE YOU, MARY
Hi Greg - I enjoyed your explanation. It's stimulating to think about these things. Since all Scripture is God breathed - 2 Timothy 3:16 - I don't think it matters if men wrote the Bible. And yes, I think the Lord is pleased when we discuss and focus on Him. Malachi 3:16 We need to make certain we are honoring God with our discussions.
ReplyDeleteThink about this - yes there are many men and women who did not have a good father figure. Do we cheat them out of finding that perfect Father figure in God by calling Him a her? Isn't God big enough to get them over that hump so they can rejoice in their Heavenly Father?
My father had his faults and because of that my Father God is even more special to me. I need that perfect Father in my life. It is such a joy to see how Father God is everything that is good and perfect. Congrats on your A. Praying the vertigo has gone. Karen Beck