Scripture and the Christian tradition used feminine language for God frequently. God as a mama bear. God as a mother eagle. Jesus as a mother hen. God as a woman looking for her lost coin. The list goes on. However, we rarely hear these passages in our congregations. So, many people are unaware they exist.
It is true that God in human form, Jesus, is male. We frequently speak of the Trinity in terms of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Many churches use only male pronouns for God. But when we use exclusively male language for God, people conclude that God is male.
God is not male or female. God is God. Our language about God is our attempt to describe the indescribable. Any language about God is just that – words. Our words cannot capture God. When we fail to recognize the wide range of descriptions for God, we know less about God. We miss the opportunity to grow in faith.
This message is an excerpt of “God as mother” by Michelle Terry in the May 2021 issue Café. Today, on the fifth Sunday after Pentecost, we remember Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, who died in 444.
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