Prayables | Is God Male, Female, or Something Else?

Published: Fri, 12/09/22

Friday December 9, 2022

Common sense is not so common.

Voltaire

When you are engaged in wholesome service to God, when your will is strong, and when your spirit is infused with a dedication to do good, you will surely be blessed.

Each moment is a present by God's presence. Every kind gesture is a monument to the moment in which we are living, loving, and giving back to
God. Thank You Holy One who blesses me with time on this earth.

I perform kindness to thousands of generations, for those who love Me and for those who observe My commandments.

IS GOD MALE, FEMALE, OR SOMETHING ELSE?

There’s a lot of talk these days about gender identity. I’m getting tired of it. I’m fine with she/her, he/him, and I’m respectful of all they/thems who are coming to terms with a non-binary identity.

But there is one element of gender identity I struggle with on a daily basis. Is God male, female, or something else?

The answer is something else or both.

I know God is not a man or a woman. God is brilliantly…God. The Holy One can not be categorized. When I am sharing Bible scripture, I will occasionally tinker with the verse and try to eliminate “He said…” and replace it with “God said…”

Sometimes it works.

And then there’s “Lord” or God as “King.” What am I supposed to do about that? Must I alter the entire King James version of the Bible?!!

I needed to clear up all this hesitation and confusion once and for all.

So I did some research on the gender associations of God.

Confirmed. God is neither man nor woman: God is God.

So why all the “he” and male imagery? The culprit is grammar.

The Bible, as we received it, was written in the Hebrew language. Hebrew grammar dictates that gender needs to be attached to every noun. And the different names of God we read about in the Bible have mostly male pronouns attached to them, except when they don’t.

To make it even more complicated, there’s a loophole. A female gender attached to a noun is always female, but a male gender attached to a noun can be both male or female.

It’s exhausting to try and get it right in order to please those who want to see gender neutrality with every reference to God. And what about the traditionalist who is satisfied with an apparently male God?

I concede. I will continue to try to call God “God” when it makes sense in context. And when it is more accurate or simply more pleasing to refer to God with a male identity such as “Lord” or our “Father,” I will do that too.

God transcends labels. It’s our relationship with God that transforms us. Our prayers give praise, our Bible study gives honor, and our acts of loving kindness pleases God.

I’m okay with that.

- Susan Diamond

GRATITUDE FOR FRIENDS

I have a femur fracture a complication due to hip replacement. Very limited what I can do and still a considerable amount of pain. This began Oct 19. Please pray for me to have patience. Also, for gratitude for all the friends I have

- Jennifer

1051 Perimeter Drive
9th floor
Schaumburg IL 60173
USA

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