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.