READING: MATTHEW 6:1-15
[IS GOD OUR FATHER OR OUR MOTHER?]
From time to time feminist and liberal
theologians portray God as our "Heavenly Mother" This is a scriptural
critique of such a position.
1) THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT A MALE CHAUVINIST BOOK:
This is often the cry of the feminist movement... that since all the
inspired writers were men - as far as we know - and lived in a very
patriarchal society - then they only reflect their environment.
A/ Such a view entertains very low views of the inspiration of
Scripture. If Bible is just the opinions/biases of mere men (no matter
how politically correct) then we are wasting our time reading it.
Certainly…would be folly to venture immortal soul upon its
teaching (as many of us do)
B/ Remember 2 Peter 1:21. "The word of the Lord came unto me…"
(oft repeated phrase)
Such inspiration often went against the feelings of these prophets. Did
not by pass their personality - or their brain/understanding - but
certainly did not come out of their hearts:
2 Peter 1:20 meaning that the word of God is what it says it is and not the words of mere men.
C/ We often come across situations where the words of the writer caused
him great anguish of heart. He is evidently not expressing his own
private feelings with their various biases:
Jeremiah is a good example: 20:7-9 Again: 28:5-7
If ever God preserved His word from man's bias … case of the prophet Balaam: Numbers 22:18
2) MOTHERLY CHARACTERISTICS ARE OFTEN ATTRIBUTED TO GOD:
Look at some of them:
Isaiah 66:13 a mother comforting her child. Also Deuteronomy 32:18 (Heb) "God who gave thee birth"
Proverbs 8:1-3 Wisdom here is given in the feminine. She standeth…she crieth etc.,
Perhaps there are other passages in a similar vein.
Are they open to the interpretation that God can be rightly called our Mother? No.
A/ Take Isaiah 66:13 Here God likens His love to the COI as that of a
mother. How deep is this love for His own people. Point that is being
emphasised.
Bonding between God and Israel.
This closeness is portrayed under other similitudes:
Example: Deuteronomy 19:4 "eagles wings" Is God a bird? Obviously not.
Recognise that there is a picture being drawn here…not to be pushed too literally.
Same thought crops up again in Deuteronomy 32:10-11 (context of v18) Cp. Matthew 23:37
God is said to have both borne us (v18) and begotten us:
1 John 5:18 - i.e. we are His.
Motherly language is used to denote certain truths…but they are not to pressed too much.
B/ As for Proverbs 8 (Feminine wisdom) - no problem.
Who is this wisdom that is speaking?
Who was with God before the foundation of the world? (v22 ff.) Answer:- John 1:1-2/14
Christ is distinctly called the wisdom of God:
1 Corinthians 1:24 and also the man Christ Jesus.
C/ Important and fundamental importance in Bible interpretation (on
whatever subject) to take the Bible as a whole and interpret all
individual/isolated parts as they pertain to the whole.
3) WHY DO WE INSIST THAT GOD BE CALLED FATHER?
Answer is really simple.
We are only doing what we are told to do in Bible.
If we accept the premise (already stated) that the Bible is God's word,
then we are only following both the precept/examples set forth in God's
own word.
Doing what God wants us to do.
A/ The Lord Jesus never referred to God as a Mother/His Mother/Our Mother. Consistently.
As a child (Luke 2:48-49) when speaking to His mother.
His ministry: Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5:16/45/6:1-8
The prayer He taught us to pray: Opening words: Our Father. Overwhelmed with evidence.
Even in His dreadful night in Gethsemane:
Never appealed to God other than His Father.
After His resurrection: John 20:17 (note emphasise)
B/ The Apostles spoke highly of women.
Look particularly at the equality of Galatians 3:28
But you look in vain to see where they referred to God as our Mother.
C/ Whilst we use the masculine to refer to God … not saying that God is a man. Bible expressly denies He is:
Numbers 23:19/1 Samuel 15:29 but He insists that we use the masculine term.
D/ In Galatians 4:26, the blood washed church is referred to as being our Mother.
Spiritually speaking just as there is (Ephesians 4:6) One God and Father - only one spiritual mother i.e. the church
If you start to confuse the emblems/pictures…know this:
God …not the author of that confusion.
What danger when we go beyond what the Bible expressly teaches. When
Israel let her imagination run riot - went beyond what is written -
they fell into gross idolatry. Invented gods.
If you are addressing your deity as Mother - not worshipping the God of the Bible: John 4:24
E/ The teaching of a Mother-God is a firmly pagan conception. Many
names crop up all associated with this teaching: Gia etc., none of
which are rooted in the Bible but in heathen past.
That leads to darkness and not to light. God says of such worship: their rock is not as our rock.
4) WHO DOES THE BIBLE SAY CAN CALL GOD THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER?
Perhaps you feel that at least this point is not under any dispute. Think again.
A/ In a limited sense every single human being can claim God as Father: Acts 17:26-29. Creation.
In itself it is not enough to get a man to Heaven. Did not save Judas/Pharaoh etc.,
B/ What we are by nature contradicts what we are by creation: John 8:44. True of us all: Ephesians 2:2-3
One relates to the physical man - the other relates to the immortal soul.
C/ If we are to be saved for eternity from sin's guilt/power etc., we need to be brought into God's family.
All those promises about God being a Father (Psalm 103:13 etc.,) only
relate to those who are born into God's family. Family texts.
Outsiders cannot appropriate them to themselves..
If we take the Bible strictly as it teaches (not fancifully) then we will learn:
Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of God. John 3:3
But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on
his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13
THE END