Is God Sexist?

A recent meeting by the Presbyterian Church USA has decided that it might be time to change or alter referring to the Trinity as "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." [Full Article: http://www.pcusa.org/theologyandworship/issues/trinityfinal.pdf] The reason for the change? Some feel referring to God as Father is not inclusive enough. Suggestions for amending the Trinity: "Mother, Child, Womb;" "Lover, Beloved, Love;" "Rock, Redeemer, Friend;" "Creator, Savior, Sanctifier."

Ok, so what does all this mean exactly? Is it sexist to refer to God as Father, or use the pronoun He? Is it offensive that Jesus is male? That he prayed to His Father? Should we change the Lord's Prayer to be more inclusive?

I am really put off by those who claim referring to God as Father somehow isolates others. The argument: "Some people have had bad experiences with their fathers so referring to God as father is insensitive to them." My answer: yes, some people have had bad fathers, or no fathers at all. What better way to help them see God's love for them than to introduce them to their perfect Heavenly Father? To understand that for all our shortcomings as people, we worship a perfect God, who loves us and made us in His image.

I have heard people pray to "Our Father/Mother" or "Our Parent." Or refer to God's blessings as "God has given us God's blessings. We must worship God and give God what is God's." In scholarship, this is an appropriate usage, but should we be so pc in church? Does this kind of usage create a distance between us and God in our prayers, by refusing to refer to God more personally as Jesus taught us? How great is it that we who are so small can refer to God, Who is so big, as our father, our daddy. He allows us such access to His throne, to His glory, love, and grace. Why fear embracing His name, His perfect love for us as our Heavenly Father? CS Lewis wrote: "He is not an ogre who terrifies us with hideous cruelty, nor the kind of father we sometimes read or hear about - autocrat, playboy, drunkard - but he himself fulfills the ideal of fatherhood in his loving care for his children."

Is God male? No. Does God call Himself Father? Yes. Is God like a mother? Yes, He speaks of longing to gather us a mother hen gathers her chicks. Does God call Himself Mother? No. Does this mean that men are superior to women or that God is sexist? No. It's just how God refers to Himself and we don't need to apologize for Him about it. We need to focus on introducing others to Him.

The Homeless

I met a homeless man this morning. His name is Rich. When he introduced himself, he said, "I'm rich in spirit, not in money." I am bad at guessing ages, but I would say Rich is 55 years old. We spoke for a few minutes, where I learned that Rich was once a postal worker in Omaha, Neb, until alcohol did him in. He lost his home and job due to his alcoholism, spiraling him downward to the bottom of life. A few years ago, he moved to San Antonio to begin again. Three years ago, Rich came to Travis Park UMC where he began to grow closer to God while attempting to recover his life. He's in the process. He sees his ministry as helping others who are homeless realize that God has a purpose for their lives as well. There's Rich, rich in spirit, not in money, who is attempting to recover his life while also helping others along the way. I am glad I met Rich today.

This morning during worship, I sat behind a homeless man. His name is John. John brings his own tambourine to worship, although he is not in the official praise band. He is however, the best tambourine player and most authentically enthusiastic worshipper I have ever met. He didn't miss a beat the entire worship service, and I should say, he added to my worship of God by being an example to follow of a worshipper on fire for Christ. John is homeless, but mentally he is brilliant. He has a photographic memory, he has drawn an entire map of Texas along with a detailed drawing of the human body including organs, muscles, etc., just from remembering pictures he saw in a book. John is bi-polar, which has led to his homelessness. But John lives with enthusiasm and hope because of Jesus Christ. I am glad I met John today.

We have a lot of stereotypes when we think of the homeless. But 22% of the homeless are employed at least 20 hours a week (not including day laborers or migrant workers, so this percentage is a bit higher), and 39% of homeless are children - hardly a picture of the dirty homeless man we picture in our minds when we think of homeless. Next time I pull through a drive-thru window, go to tip the waiter at the restaurant, or look at the kids coming out of the local high school, junior high, or elementary, it will cross my mind that this person just might be homeless.

Jesus calls us to reach out to the marginalized in our society. I am thankful for my encounters with John, Rich, and many others who have shown me that I have a long way to go to be the person that Christ has called me to be - a person on fire for Him.