230 WHERE IS EVANGELICAL FEMINISM TAKING US?
Indeed, it is sometimes asserted that those in holy office should be
male to represent the Deity who is male. This is to ignore what the
Bible has to say, for God is pictured as both male and female. Let us
be clear that God does not possess sexuality—neither distinctive
maleness nor femaleness; but to explain the love and work of God,
both male and female imagery is used.
Consider these scriptures carefully: Psalm 131:2-3; Deut. 32:18;
Isa. 49:15; 66:9-13; 42:13-14; and Matthew 23:37. Among other
passages is James 1:17-18, which first speaks of God as Father and
then says God brought us forth as Mother. Job 38:28-29, Isa. 63:15
and Jer. 31:20 speak of the womb of God, surely a valuable image
when we think of new birth. God’s likeness to a mother is an impor-
tant aspect of the divine nature. Can Christians neglect any aspect of
God’s being as it is revealed in Scripture? There is good biblical rea-
son, then, to speak of God as both Father and Mother, both “she”
and “he.” This is particularly important for evangelicals to remem-
ber when they seek to witness to people turning to goddess worship
in their desire for a deity with feminine attributes. It is also essential
to remember when ministering to those with bad father images, who
may have positive feelings about their mothers. Women as well as
men are made in God’s image! (Gen. 1:26-27, 5:1-2).^10The current president of Christians for Biblical Equality, Mimi
Hadad, also says “we may speak of God as father or mother.”^11
What is wrong with calling God “Mother”? Randy Stinson has a
very helpful short article, “Seven Reasons Why We Cannot Call God
‘Mother.’”^12 He points out, among other things, (1) that God’s own
Word never calls him “Mother” or “She” but regularly uses masculine
terms such as “Father” and “He” and “King” (never “Queen”) and
“Husband” (never “Wife”); and (2) that God’s self-revelation in
Scripture is his own chosen way of revealing his identity to us, and we
should not tamper with that or add to it by calling God names the Bible
never uses and carefully avoids using.
(^10) Richard Kroeger and Catherine Kroeger, “Women Elders... Sinners or Servants?” available
online at http://firstpresby.org/womenelders.htm, italics added.
(^11) Mimi Haddad, “What Language Shall We Use?” available online at the CBE website
(www.cbeinternational.org/new/free_articles/what_language.shtml, accessed 5-1-06).
(^12) Randy Stinson, “Seven Reasons Why We Cannot Call God ‘Mother,’” available online at
the CBMW website (http://www.cbmw.org/article.php?id=99).