Myth, 18

~ Christianity Is Masculine ~

Myth  ~  While Christianity is for men this statement implies it is not for women—that is what makes it a myth.  Christ is the center of Christianity.  God is a Triune God and all three members of the Trinity have all the God nature, all the God characteristics, but each has their own personality.

Feminine Characteristics of God  ~  Most people are familiar with the Father image of God.  But throughout Scripture we also find the Mother image of God—God exercising what societies typically consider feminine characteristics.  A few examples: 

old testament:

“As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so the Lord alone led him, and there was no foreign god with him” (Deuteronomy 32:11-12).

“But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.  I was cast upon You from birth.  From My mother’s womb You have been My God” (Psalm 22:9-10).

“By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb.  My praise shall be continually of You” (Psalm 71:6). 

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb?  Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15).

“‘Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?’ says the Lord.  ‘Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?’ says your God” (Isaiah 66:9).

“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 66:13). 

“I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, and there I will devour them like a lion.  The wild beast shall tear them” (Hosea 13:8).

new testament:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34).

 ‘Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?  And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’  Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:8-10).

Masculine Characteristics of God  ~  Throughout Scripture we find God exercising what society consider masculine characteristics (at least at the time of writing).  Here are a few of many examples.  Throughout both Testaments we find God referred to as Father.  He is also described as a Warrior, the Lord of Armies, King of Glory, and Lord of Hosts (Psalm 24:8).  God is also described as actively teaching the skills of war (Psalm 144:1).  God is Judge—an enforcer of righteousness and a punisher of the wicked in society. 

jesus christ:  Physician Luke records how the angel Gabriel prophesied to Mary that would conceive a Son (Luke 1:31), then Luke confirms the event happened (Luke 2:7), and still later records Christ’s circumcision (Luke 2:21).

While on earth, in human form, Jesus Christ was often slandered, blasphemed, and mistreated as a masculine human (Matthew 11:19; Mark 7:2; Luke 6:2; John 8:48, 52).

Christ is not only described as a King but also the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16).  Christ is our Priest, Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), and our Bridegroom (John 3:29).  Of note is the fact that nowhere in Scripture do read any account of His enemies hinting at or accusing Him of being effeminate. 

Creation  ~  During creation we find that God created both male and female.  “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).  “He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created” (Genesis 5:2).

Comment  ~  Male and female are equal but unique in their God-created natures.  The two genders complement each other and are equal in value.  God is the Creator of both male and female and Christianity is a faith-based relationship with the Creator open to relationship with all of humankind.  We all, male and female, are created in the image of God.

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26-29).  God is a God for all people! 

Conclusion  ~  God is not male or female, but God.  What we tend to think of as feminine or masculine traits are actually all Godly traits!  “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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