As is the case in so many Christian churches, the congregation I belong to uses wholly masculine language for God, and I find this hard to bear. It’s such a huge loss to exclude half of God’s Being so completely, although I understand why people do this. After all, even Jesus constantly referred to God as his Father, and never as his Mother.
However, I was comforted a few days ago by realising how natural it must have seemed for Jesus to call God his Father, given that his Mother was alive and often with him. Christ saw and knew his earthly Mother in person, whilst he believed in and prayed to his Heavenly Father in faith. Whilst he was on earth, this separation of roles must have made complete and logical sense to him.
This insight comforted me – but when I feel strong enough, I still plan to talk with the clergy at my church about the wholly masculine language for God used in all our services!
References
God is our Mother
The Almighty …will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb (Genesis 49:25; NKJV).
From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free (Romans 8:22-3; NLT).
Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? (Job 38:8-9; NLT).
Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God (Psalm 90:2; NLT).
Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God? (Isaiah 66:9; CPDV).
For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant (Isaiah 42:14; NIV).
As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you (Isaiah 66:13; NET).
God is our Father
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy (Matthew 6:9; NLT).
If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you (Matthew 6:14; NLT).
Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing (Luke 23:34; NLT).
Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands (Luke 23:46; NLT).
God is neither male nor female, but encompasses and far exceeds all human understanding of gender
God is not human (Numbers 23:19; NIV).
God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27; NLT).
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NIV).
God is Spirit (John 4:24; NLT).
