Is God a Sexists?
A few months ago I was at local retailer buying a new cell phone. The process took two hours, and I am glad. The young man who helped me engaged in a great conversation. We talked briefly about apologetics and then he asked the question: "Is God a Sexist?"
This is not a new question. It can be worded in various ways, but the meaning is the same. "What do you mean?" I asked. "The Bible refers to God as 'He.'" "Ah" I started, "So you are asking is God male or female? And why does He even use such descriptions?" He said "Yes."
We know from Scripture mankind is created in God's own image (Genesis 1:27). This is a sign that men and women are in His image. God is not male or female, but He is above and beyond gender.
I often joke with people that the way to understand the Bible thoroughly is to pick up a Bible and read it. A careful study of the Bible will reveal that God refers to Himself both in the male and female. Isaiah 49:14-15 says, "But Zion said, 'The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.' 'Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!'" Matthew 23:37 compares God to a mother hen gathering her chicks.
Regardless of a male or a female description, they are all anthropomorphisms. They are ways to personify God. God transcends humanity and gender, so He inspired mankind to describe Him in the ways recorded in the Bible. Again, like in Matthew, God is not literally a chicken. He is like a chicken protecting its chicks.
Last, God is not politically correct, nor should we treat Him, His titles or descriptions as such. Anthropomorphisms are used to help us understand God, not confuse us.
This is not a new question. It can be worded in various ways, but the meaning is the same. "What do you mean?" I asked. "The Bible refers to God as 'He.'" "Ah" I started, "So you are asking is God male or female? And why does He even use such descriptions?" He said "Yes."
We know from Scripture mankind is created in God's own image (Genesis 1:27). This is a sign that men and women are in His image. God is not male or female, but He is above and beyond gender.
I often joke with people that the way to understand the Bible thoroughly is to pick up a Bible and read it. A careful study of the Bible will reveal that God refers to Himself both in the male and female. Isaiah 49:14-15 says, "But Zion said, 'The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.' 'Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!'" Matthew 23:37 compares God to a mother hen gathering her chicks.
Regardless of a male or a female description, they are all anthropomorphisms. They are ways to personify God. God transcends humanity and gender, so He inspired mankind to describe Him in the ways recorded in the Bible. Again, like in Matthew, God is not literally a chicken. He is like a chicken protecting its chicks.
Last, God is not politically correct, nor should we treat Him, His titles or descriptions as such. Anthropomorphisms are used to help us understand God, not confuse us.
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