Is God a male person? Why do the descriptions of God in the Bible seem male instead of female? Why is God called a "father"? Can we use feminine concepts
for God also? We've started on some important questions here: whether the names and descriptions we have for God are adequate and if not, what to do about it.
Last week I wrote about whether being wounded by a father figure (or any male figure) means we shouldn't try to think of God as a father, substituting some other word instead. We recognized that idea as "anthropocentric" or human-centered reasoning, which is basically idolatry. It starts from the basis of who we are, what we understand, and what we feel our needs are, then projects our ideas onto God, like he was a big movie screen. But God is far greater than our ideas of who he should be, so we need to use "theocentric" or "God-centered" reasoning instead.
Since God describes himself to us in the Bible using the word Father, then we should use those concepts to describe and define for us what a physical father should be like. God is not often referred to in the Old Testament as a father, but Jesus describes him right from the start as "Our Father" (Mat. 6:9) and he speaks of God as Father 16 times in Luke's gospel and at least 93 times in John's Gospel! We would do well to review John's writings, especially, to see more of the Fatherhood of God as Jesus showed it to us. But in summary, we could say that the Father is an infinitely loving Person who plans and provides good for us, looks out for us, and always works out what is best for us, even to the point of sacrificing himself for us (see John 3:16). In fact, he loves us as much as he loves the Son of God (John 17:23) -- which shows us that the infinite and eternal love that is characteristic of the Father-Son-Spirit God is now being shared with us!
If we are willing to trust that Scripture has come to us as it was inspired by God, without changes in its meaning, then we also have to accept that the names for God are what he actually calls himself. Can God be Father even if we have similar terms in human life, and some of those terms leave us with negative images? Yes, if we're willing to think in theocentric terms: admitting that God is Father of all, and that he defines for us what Fatherhood is, therefore we can re-define what fatherhood should be! Our own fathers fell short of that ideal, no matter how good they were, but we can choose to see them through the eyes of grace just as our heavenly Father sees us. More on all of this next time.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
What Is God's Name? (Part 2)
Last week we introduced some of the questions about how God is named in the Bible, and whether we should add
to those words or change them, with the goal of understanding God better and loving him more. These goals sound noble, so let's see if the strategy is a good one. I am indebted for this material to the work of James B. Torrance and his brother Thomas F. Torrance, Gary Deddo and Roland L. Frye, among others.
My dad and I didn't get along well when I was growing up. Until I began to understand and appreciate both God and my father better, I had difficulties accepting God as a father figure -- no surprise, right? In fact many (not all, of course) of us in the Western world have strained relationships with our physical fathers. So it seems logical to us that we should want a different word for God, that doesn't remind us of that wound. Some evangelists have even substituted "friend" for "Father" to be a more acceptable idea to those who don't know God yet. Others focus on Jesus, who seems more palatable than the Father, thus avoiding -- for the moment -- the issue of God's fatherhood.
So here's the first problem we're going to look at: this strategy is "anthropocentric" or human-centered, rather than "theocentric" or God-centered. We've created ourselves as the center of the universe. We allow our pain to define and determine who we are for the rest of our lives, not believing that God can heal any wound. That's idolatry. Instead, when we look to Jesus we find the love and healing of God expressed toward us. Jesus took on our sins, our weaknesses and our pain (Isa. 53:3-5). When he touched a leper, he didn't contract leprosy -- the leper was healed! When he spoke with people, he didn't leave them in their sin and selfishness, but confronted their anthropocentric ways, challenging them to turn away from themselves as idols, and toward God (the Sermon on the Mount, Mat. 5-7, is a good example of that idea, but there are many others).
Here's the point for today: your pain, the abuse in your past, your personal or public wound, does not define you. Only God can define you -- and God says you belong to him, he loves you just like you are right now, and he will love you forever! Even though you've been wounded by a father figure, God is the perfect definition of all fatherhood, and he knows how to help you perfectly. Hebrews 12:10 says "For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness."
God is asking you, right now, to let go of whatever you think keeps you from his "YES" toward you. Even if you've been saying "No" to him all your life, God says "No" to your "No" and "YES" to you. His love as a perfect Father will completely make up for any lack of love from your own dad -- and you will find healing in him (Mat. 11:29). (Next week, we'll look at why the Bible uses the word "father" for God.)
to those words or change them, with the goal of understanding God better and loving him more. These goals sound noble, so let's see if the strategy is a good one. I am indebted for this material to the work of James B. Torrance and his brother Thomas F. Torrance, Gary Deddo and Roland L. Frye, among others.
My dad and I didn't get along well when I was growing up. Until I began to understand and appreciate both God and my father better, I had difficulties accepting God as a father figure -- no surprise, right? In fact many (not all, of course) of us in the Western world have strained relationships with our physical fathers. So it seems logical to us that we should want a different word for God, that doesn't remind us of that wound. Some evangelists have even substituted "friend" for "Father" to be a more acceptable idea to those who don't know God yet. Others focus on Jesus, who seems more palatable than the Father, thus avoiding -- for the moment -- the issue of God's fatherhood.
So here's the first problem we're going to look at: this strategy is "anthropocentric" or human-centered, rather than "theocentric" or God-centered. We've created ourselves as the center of the universe. We allow our pain to define and determine who we are for the rest of our lives, not believing that God can heal any wound. That's idolatry. Instead, when we look to Jesus we find the love and healing of God expressed toward us. Jesus took on our sins, our weaknesses and our pain (Isa. 53:3-5). When he touched a leper, he didn't contract leprosy -- the leper was healed! When he spoke with people, he didn't leave them in their sin and selfishness, but confronted their anthropocentric ways, challenging them to turn away from themselves as idols, and toward God (the Sermon on the Mount, Mat. 5-7, is a good example of that idea, but there are many others).
Here's the point for today: your pain, the abuse in your past, your personal or public wound, does not define you. Only God can define you -- and God says you belong to him, he loves you just like you are right now, and he will love you forever! Even though you've been wounded by a father figure, God is the perfect definition of all fatherhood, and he knows how to help you perfectly. Hebrews 12:10 says "For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness."
God is asking you, right now, to let go of whatever you think keeps you from his "YES" toward you. Even if you've been saying "No" to him all your life, God says "No" to your "No" and "YES" to you. His love as a perfect Father will completely make up for any lack of love from your own dad -- and you will find healing in him (Mat. 11:29). (Next week, we'll look at why the Bible uses the word "father" for God.)
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
What Is God's Name? (part 1)
If you want to get in trouble fast, try calling a loved one by the wrong name. Those of us from large families sometimes got called a sibling's name by Dad or Mom, especially if we were in trouble -- and that just made it worse. But what do you call God? In the Bible, he's
Father, Son and Spirit, but a modern movement wants to neutralize these names because they're thought of as sexist. I think you'll see that, far from being an esoteric argument by theologians in a back room somewhere, this discussion is key to truly understanding God, and resting assured in his love for us! And for this series, I am indebted to the work of Dr. Gary Deddo, who has written clearly and with a deep love for God and others on this topic.
First, let's look at the objections, conscious and unconscious, to naming God with male terms. Then, we'll look carefully for Biblical answers to each one. Finally, we'll see what difference it makes in our lives and our relationship with God, when we understand him for who he is, using his true names. Ready?
When I was in college, desiring to know more of God, I ran into a roadblock: a broken relationship with my human father leading me to mistrust God as a father. Sound familiar? I was afraid that God would be angry or impatient with me, as my dad often was, and it took many years to learn that he really wasn't that way. That broken relationship with a father figure, so common in our society today, leads some to believe the cure is to change our words for God. More about that in our next installment.
Another major argument is that the Bible was written in a society dominated by men, so descriptions of God were obviously male in character and ignored the needs of women and the true nature of God, who must have feminine traits and perhaps a female person. If all that is true, it creates a lot of additional concerns for us! We'll answer that too.
Finally, the argument goes, if the Bible really does ignore a female side of God and the needs of women, as some say, then the Bible and Christianity is simply another method for oppressing women. If that's the case, then the whole foundation of Christianity -- including a male Savior -- is in a lot of trouble. Would you like an answer for that?
Please bear with me! We'll see that there are solid answers for all these concerns, answers that actually tell us a lot more about who God is. By doing that, we will learn to trust his love for us more than ever!
Father, Son and Spirit, but a modern movement wants to neutralize these names because they're thought of as sexist. I think you'll see that, far from being an esoteric argument by theologians in a back room somewhere, this discussion is key to truly understanding God, and resting assured in his love for us! And for this series, I am indebted to the work of Dr. Gary Deddo, who has written clearly and with a deep love for God and others on this topic.
First, let's look at the objections, conscious and unconscious, to naming God with male terms. Then, we'll look carefully for Biblical answers to each one. Finally, we'll see what difference it makes in our lives and our relationship with God, when we understand him for who he is, using his true names. Ready?
When I was in college, desiring to know more of God, I ran into a roadblock: a broken relationship with my human father leading me to mistrust God as a father. Sound familiar? I was afraid that God would be angry or impatient with me, as my dad often was, and it took many years to learn that he really wasn't that way. That broken relationship with a father figure, so common in our society today, leads some to believe the cure is to change our words for God. More about that in our next installment.
Another major argument is that the Bible was written in a society dominated by men, so descriptions of God were obviously male in character and ignored the needs of women and the true nature of God, who must have feminine traits and perhaps a female person. If all that is true, it creates a lot of additional concerns for us! We'll answer that too.
Finally, the argument goes, if the Bible really does ignore a female side of God and the needs of women, as some say, then the Bible and Christianity is simply another method for oppressing women. If that's the case, then the whole foundation of Christianity -- including a male Savior -- is in a lot of trouble. Would you like an answer for that?
Please bear with me! We'll see that there are solid answers for all these concerns, answers that actually tell us a lot more about who God is. By doing that, we will learn to trust his love for us more than ever!
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Can the Gospel Change Your Life?
Romans 12:2 - Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn
to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
The Bible isn't just a chapter of history told from a particular perspective, or a series of letters to a long-gone church, or a bunch of poems from a prophet to ancient Israel, or even an instruction manual for human life. It's a telling of human struggles, and the love story of our rescue from those struggles by God himself, as he gives imperfect and messy humans a new way of living with him and with each other (and even with ourselves).
The critical moment for each of us is when we can see the Bible as the words of God to us, personally, individually, for right now, even though they were written two thousand or more years ago. But please notice, taking God's words personally doesn't mean saying "Yes, that's right, I have to try harder to do these things so God will be pleased with me." It's more like a cry of wonder and awe: "Is God really saying that he loves me and wants my love in return? Is God really offering me a new life in what he says here? Can God really take away my old habits, unclean desires, and horrible memories of my past? Can I trust that God will help me change? Will I ever be able to say that in my life I'm reflecting the image of Christ?" The answer to all those questions is "YES!"
The Gospel -- the Good News of God's love for us -- really does have the power to changes your life. I know that because I've seen people changed from the inside out once they learn it. I know a man who was once self-centered and abusive, who came to see the love of God for him. He is now a stable, loving man who has renewed relationships with his children, and who expresses God's love through the gifts of the Spirit in the body of Christ. The love, peace, patience and other fruits of God's love in his life (see Galatians 5:22-23 for one list) are directly from God's heart to our hearts -- God condescending to live in us and express himself through us -- not from our broken methods of trying harder.
How does the Gospel change our lives? When we look to the Son of God, Jesus the Christ, who has already made it possible for us: "So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." Let the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ change you.
to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
The Bible isn't just a chapter of history told from a particular perspective, or a series of letters to a long-gone church, or a bunch of poems from a prophet to ancient Israel, or even an instruction manual for human life. It's a telling of human struggles, and the love story of our rescue from those struggles by God himself, as he gives imperfect and messy humans a new way of living with him and with each other (and even with ourselves).
The critical moment for each of us is when we can see the Bible as the words of God to us, personally, individually, for right now, even though they were written two thousand or more years ago. But please notice, taking God's words personally doesn't mean saying "Yes, that's right, I have to try harder to do these things so God will be pleased with me." It's more like a cry of wonder and awe: "Is God really saying that he loves me and wants my love in return? Is God really offering me a new life in what he says here? Can God really take away my old habits, unclean desires, and horrible memories of my past? Can I trust that God will help me change? Will I ever be able to say that in my life I'm reflecting the image of Christ?" The answer to all those questions is "YES!"
The Gospel -- the Good News of God's love for us -- really does have the power to changes your life. I know that because I've seen people changed from the inside out once they learn it. I know a man who was once self-centered and abusive, who came to see the love of God for him. He is now a stable, loving man who has renewed relationships with his children, and who expresses God's love through the gifts of the Spirit in the body of Christ. The love, peace, patience and other fruits of God's love in his life (see Galatians 5:22-23 for one list) are directly from God's heart to our hearts -- God condescending to live in us and express himself through us -- not from our broken methods of trying harder.
How does the Gospel change our lives? When we look to the Son of God, Jesus the Christ, who has already made it possible for us: "So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." Let the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ change you.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Politics, and Real Answers
My friend Jack and I got into a discussion about politics the other day. Being the reasonable person I am, as soon as he started telling me his opinions about the parties and candidates, I had to tell him my opinion too. That's when
things got difficult. But one of the fascinating things about having friends who don't have the same belief system or ideas as you, is that election time gets intense!
I've had discussions lately with quite a few neighbors, friends and church members about our economy, the job situation, foreign policy and so forth. And although I am non-partisan, I have an opinion about our system: it's broken. Jesus said "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse" (Matthew 9:16). He wasn't talking about politics, but we are in a similar situation. Most of our laws are designed to fix a problem, and that's honorable. By nature, those laws favor one situation while limiting another, and they're never perfectly even-handed. The imbalance needs to be adjusted, or new factors come into play. Our system has become so complex that, when we write another law to patch a problem, we "tear a hole" somewhere else, then we try to fix that, and ... well, you get the picture. (If you'd like a real-life example, here's a news story illustrating this from the BBC.)
I have a much more fundamental question that you might find counter-intuitive at first: Who is Jesus? He is the Creator, the coming King of the world, our Savior, and the one who by becoming flesh along with us, has brought us into the heart of God for eternity. Asking "how would Jesus vote?" obscures the real issue: Jesus isn't running, and he isn't voting, he already IS in charge even though he hasn't yet fully imposed his will on the world. When he does return visibly in glory, he won't be looking for your vote! He, and he alone, will have all the perfect answers to all our tangled and competing needs. If we try to work out our problems without looking to him for his solutions and his love, we're hopelessly lost. And someday, he's going to return and we'll finally get to see what human life really ought to look like.
What do we do in the meantime, then? Here are some suggestions:
things got difficult. But one of the fascinating things about having friends who don't have the same belief system or ideas as you, is that election time gets intense!
I've had discussions lately with quite a few neighbors, friends and church members about our economy, the job situation, foreign policy and so forth. And although I am non-partisan, I have an opinion about our system: it's broken. Jesus said "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse" (Matthew 9:16). He wasn't talking about politics, but we are in a similar situation. Most of our laws are designed to fix a problem, and that's honorable. By nature, those laws favor one situation while limiting another, and they're never perfectly even-handed. The imbalance needs to be adjusted, or new factors come into play. Our system has become so complex that, when we write another law to patch a problem, we "tear a hole" somewhere else, then we try to fix that, and ... well, you get the picture. (If you'd like a real-life example, here's a news story illustrating this from the BBC.)
I have a much more fundamental question that you might find counter-intuitive at first: Who is Jesus? He is the Creator, the coming King of the world, our Savior, and the one who by becoming flesh along with us, has brought us into the heart of God for eternity. Asking "how would Jesus vote?" obscures the real issue: Jesus isn't running, and he isn't voting, he already IS in charge even though he hasn't yet fully imposed his will on the world. When he does return visibly in glory, he won't be looking for your vote! He, and he alone, will have all the perfect answers to all our tangled and competing needs. If we try to work out our problems without looking to him for his solutions and his love, we're hopelessly lost. And someday, he's going to return and we'll finally get to see what human life really ought to look like.
What do we do in the meantime, then? Here are some suggestions:
- Pray hard for our leaders and system -- as though prayer is the only tool you have -- and be a responsible citizen. See Rom. 13:1-7.
- Follow the simple advice in Malachi 6:8: "this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."
- Get involved where you can to "do right and love mercy." We have the right to vote for leaders and issues in this country, and I encourage you to cast a wise, prayerfully-considered vote. About 20 years ago a friend of mine decided to get more involved: he ran for city council because he loved his neighbors and wanted to do them some good.
- Use a lot of grace in discussions with those of different opinions.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Where You Really Live
Where do you live? Some people live in a house, some in an apartment or a trailer or a condo. Some live in huge refugee camps, some in shanty towns, and some out in the open. But the Bible says everyone lives in
God. How is that possible?
Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles (and anybody else who would listen) told the people of Athens, recorded for us in Acts 17:28, "For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’" Now, wait -- these were rank pagans, people who worshipped so many gods they had a blank altar out there, just in case they left a god out accidentally. They had no clue about the true God, the creator of the whole universe, the One whom Paul was describing. So how could they be "in him?" And why would Paul agree with the poet, even if the poet didn't know who he was writing about?
Paul saw that the only way there is to live, is in God. Paul saw God not only as creator and life-giver, but he also recognized the Son of God, the man Jesus Christ, as the source of everything, including our lives. Jesus, who was God born into flesh, gave the entire human race a new starting place (Rom. 5:6-21), including life for everyone: "Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone" (verse 18). So the only place we can live, is in Christ. Our only way of living is in him. Our only purpose for life is in him.
Our reason for living is to move outward from our center in Jesus Christ, and to be a bubbling spring of life and love and peace and hope for everyone we know. Some of the people we know are probably like the pagans Paul met, with no knowledge of God and no love in them, and maybe they're hard to love sometimes. But Paul said they "live and move and exist" in him just like we do. They too have been given "new life" by God through the life, death and resurrection of his dear Son. Like the Athenians, they don't know it yet, but if somebody will tell them, some of them will believe.
Like Paul, when we approach people graciously and patiently and lovingly, we'll find ways and times and even the words to pass along this wonderful message of peace. When we focus on "living in" God, he will move us to love, and as we let him love others through us, we ourselves will experience more of his love and joy than ever.
God. How is that possible?
Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles (and anybody else who would listen) told the people of Athens, recorded for us in Acts 17:28, "For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’" Now, wait -- these were rank pagans, people who worshipped so many gods they had a blank altar out there, just in case they left a god out accidentally. They had no clue about the true God, the creator of the whole universe, the One whom Paul was describing. So how could they be "in him?" And why would Paul agree with the poet, even if the poet didn't know who he was writing about?
Paul saw that the only way there is to live, is in God. Paul saw God not only as creator and life-giver, but he also recognized the Son of God, the man Jesus Christ, as the source of everything, including our lives. Jesus, who was God born into flesh, gave the entire human race a new starting place (Rom. 5:6-21), including life for everyone: "Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone" (verse 18). So the only place we can live, is in Christ. Our only way of living is in him. Our only purpose for life is in him.
Our reason for living is to move outward from our center in Jesus Christ, and to be a bubbling spring of life and love and peace and hope for everyone we know. Some of the people we know are probably like the pagans Paul met, with no knowledge of God and no love in them, and maybe they're hard to love sometimes. But Paul said they "live and move and exist" in him just like we do. They too have been given "new life" by God through the life, death and resurrection of his dear Son. Like the Athenians, they don't know it yet, but if somebody will tell them, some of them will believe.
Like Paul, when we approach people graciously and patiently and lovingly, we'll find ways and times and even the words to pass along this wonderful message of peace. When we focus on "living in" God, he will move us to love, and as we let him love others through us, we ourselves will experience more of his love and joy than ever.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Jesus: Expert Consultant
The Lovely Joanne, in her systems-auditing business, sometimes visits client companies that have very complex manufacturing processes. Sometimes she hires
an expert consultant to come in and handle the more technical parts of the visit. That consultant has a high standard of training and experience, and knows whether the client is performing the proper tasks, and whether they're doing them properly.
How about you and me? At home, sometimes we have to call a trained plumber or electrician for repairs we can't do on our own. But when we run into trouble with relationships, what can we do? I'll admit it -- my first reaction as a human is to get tense, blame it all on the other person and keep finding more reasons he or she is at fault. That doesn't work well in my marriage, nor in any other relationship I have. I need help! Likely, so do you. (There are important times when we need to call on trained human counselors who can give us specific tools for understanding others and responding to them, but right now, let's focus on what God has given us in himself.)
Rather than giving you "Three Simple Keys to Better Relationships" let me point you to Jesus himself. Jesus is the "Expert Consultant on Relationships" whom we can call in for help. Let's look at his credentials, in the book of Hebrews. Jesus:
As I said, my first reaction is to defend myself and blame the other person. I have to stop and ask Jesus to help me see the other person from his viewpoint, not my own. Jesus helps me see the person he loves, not the person I'm upset with. Jesus gives me his compassion and forgiveness, and helps me learn how to give it away freely. Jesus is my "Expert Consultant on Relationships" and I call him in a lot. If you need that same help, I can highly recommend him. Give him a call -- why not right now?
an expert consultant to come in and handle the more technical parts of the visit. That consultant has a high standard of training and experience, and knows whether the client is performing the proper tasks, and whether they're doing them properly.
How about you and me? At home, sometimes we have to call a trained plumber or electrician for repairs we can't do on our own. But when we run into trouble with relationships, what can we do? I'll admit it -- my first reaction as a human is to get tense, blame it all on the other person and keep finding more reasons he or she is at fault. That doesn't work well in my marriage, nor in any other relationship I have. I need help! Likely, so do you. (There are important times when we need to call on trained human counselors who can give us specific tools for understanding others and responding to them, but right now, let's focus on what God has given us in himself.)
Rather than giving you "Three Simple Keys to Better Relationships" let me point you to Jesus himself. Jesus is the "Expert Consultant on Relationships" whom we can call in for help. Let's look at his credentials, in the book of Hebrews. Jesus:
- Is "the champion who initiates and perfects our faith" (12:2)
- Is the high priest "who is able to empathize with our weaknesses; and was tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin" (4:15)
- Had to endure "hostility...from sinful people" (12:3)
- Is the One who could, once and for all, "remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice" (9:26)
As I said, my first reaction is to defend myself and blame the other person. I have to stop and ask Jesus to help me see the other person from his viewpoint, not my own. Jesus helps me see the person he loves, not the person I'm upset with. Jesus gives me his compassion and forgiveness, and helps me learn how to give it away freely. Jesus is my "Expert Consultant on Relationships" and I call him in a lot. If you need that same help, I can highly recommend him. Give him a call -- why not right now?
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