Is Okay to Call God ‘Mother’? Why Do Christians Call God ‘Father
“Is Okay to Call God ‘Mother’? Why Do Christians Call God ‘Father’?”
Does it really matter if we think of God as our mother rather than our father? After all, the Bible does say that God is “spirit” (John 4:24).
The problem with that sort of thinking is it is only connected to human logic, which can be inconsistent. Words have meaning, and we must respond to what the Bible says, not what we want it to say. So, we are better off asking: “What does the Bible consistently teach about God?”
God the Father in the Bible
In the Old Testament, God is referenced as the Father of Israel or of a specific person 15 times, according to Baker’s research. Fatherhood imagery is used for God elsewhere in the Old Testament, but not very often. However, in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), Jesus calls God “Father” 65 times and more than 100 times in the Gospel of John.
Examples:
- “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)
- “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19)
Female Imagery for God in the Bible
The Bible also, occasionally, describes God with humanly feminine terms and female imagery. However, the context of such passages are clearly metaphors and personifications.
Examples:
- “You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.” (Deuteronomy 32:18)
- “The LORD will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies. 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 42:13-14).
- “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66:13)
In 26 instances throughout Scripture, feminine imagery is used to describe the activity of God, even a characteristic of God, but never is feminine language used to address God in title or name. Rather, Scripture uses masculine terminology.
In other words, “Father” is not just a description of God, it’s who He is.
Interestingly, only five of those 26 instances are found in the New Testament; the rest are in the Old Testament. After the incarnation of Jesus Christ, we find much fewer references to God with female imagery.
Also, in both the Old and New Testaments, human men are described with female imagery as well (2 Samuel 17:8, Galatians 4:19, 1 Thessalonians 2:7), but this does not change their identity to female.
The Word “Father” Reveals God’s Divine Nature
The Triune God (the Trinity) is one, eternally existing in three divine persons who are equal in essence but different in personal expressions through one undivided and eternal divine nature.
What distinguishes the Father from the Son and the Holy Spirit is not deity because they are all equally and fully God. The distinguishing mark is the fact that the Father has a unique relationship with the Son and a unique relationship with Holy Spirit.
Calling God “Father” is not like adding personification to an inanimate object. He reveals Himself as Father on every page of Scripture because this is who He really is. “Father” is how He truly relates to the Son (Romans 8:31, Luke 2:49, John 5:36, Ephesians 1:3, Philippians 2:9) and how He truly relates to us (Matthew 5:45; Romans 8:31; Hebrews 12:7; James 1:17). Therefore, we cannot abandon or replace His Fatherly identity with an alternate word.
Portions of the content above are adapted excerpts from “God Our Mother?” by Paul Lamey on Christianity.com. More @ Source
What I find daunting and trifling is for protestant and evangelical Christian ladies overtly and covertly pushing the goddess title and a female centrist deity as the God Of The Bible / Word / Scriptures in the face of mountains of truth and evidence it is just not so still try to shape the “policy” of the church and the thinking and lexicon of it to be more inclusive, progressive.
Because I know the Word to be contrary to what they espouse I do not try to bring these things to light to them, for the lack off access to the truth is not their issue, it is not their desire and hinders their aim and getting or attaining what they want and that is The Lord God Almighty conformed to their likeness.
This type of Mother / She /Her / Goddess, talk should be concerning if you encounter it within you congregation, bible study, missions work and or seminary. At times you will be dealing with a Witch, yes a Witch. A pagan, a practicing witch, a female priest of Pagan Craft, to one or more “god’s” in a pantheon of “god’s” – Performing Occult and Magic rituals and Rites, some including undeniable Satanic Practices.
Minister to them the truth and nothing but the truth namely the Bible. They have an airy fairy collection of thoughts, Ideas, teachings and writings that have established a “stronghold” in their minds. For the most covert pagan goddess worshipers with in the Christian church they will argue with you and not cough up much of what supports their understanding, it is highly unlikely they will share with you their covens manual on Witchery, Pagan Practices, Occult knowledge reference books, etc.
Some are not trying to practice witchcraft, some see themselves as a Gnostic, and where ever they feel the spirit leads them, and what ever revelations they will to they attributed it to the Holy Spirit. In this way there is only their private revelation and interpretation of it and where it comes from, there is no arguing to make reason where there is no subjective base line truth, what they will always default to is that it is their truth, and so it is for them. Again it is Burger King and they will have it their way.
The Bible tells us to take every thought captive. (2 Corinthians 10:5) That means that I have a chance to do something about all thoughts that are not well-pleasing to God, before they enter my heart and become a part of me!
It takes an honest look at the Word and what one thinks or believe, to understand what is contrary to the word, and it takes choices as well as some will and effort to discard it and start replacing it or annexing it with that which is not found in it, and is not from it.
So keep on sharing the Word with them, stand on the Word and with love invite them to stand in it with you.
