| Is God male? | |||
| Yes! The Bible uses the pronoun "He" and Jesus was a man! God is male! |     | 19 | 46.34% |
| No! God is everything. God transcends gender! Do not try to limit God. |    | 18 | 43.90% |
| I don't know, but Jesus was a man. That has to be mean something, right? |    | 4 | 9.76% |
| | |||
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Is God Male?
A poll today. Please leave your position as a comment. This poll is worded just like a poll I saw on a Christian message board the other day. I thought those results were interesting and wanted to see the results from my readers. Please participate.
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18 comments:
transcends
While I couldn't say God is everything (meaning both male and female?), God certainly transcends gender. He is the perfection of both masculine and feminine qualities.
I would also support the 'transcends' description. I am slightly surprised so many voted God was male
One more for transcends
Male. the Bible refers to Him at the Father. And gives references to things such as the church being His bride. Definitely male. Maybe not anatomically, but...
A vote for male.
You could argue that God displays male and female characteristics, but in a way, so do human males. (For example, women are seen as more nurturing, but most men also have nurturing characteristics.) So I don't think that argument counts.
Genesis 1:27
"God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
If women are created in the image of God, does this tell us something about who He is?
Transcends.
So once again we see this is a pretty evenly debated concept for Christians.
I think we'd all agree we aren't talking 'male' in terms of physicality. So obviously those of you who are voting 'male' are doing so in terms of His characteristics.
I would agree that the characteristics of God are more in-line with a 'Father' than a 'Mother' in our usually patriarchal societies. I'm sure that's why the Bible uses that kind of imagery far more often than female imagery.
But Kris brought up the key verse. God created them in His own image. Men, alone, it seems, could not perfectly reflect the image of God. It takes both genders to fully reflect the image of God.
As was mentioned by Aaron, God is the perfection of both masculine and feminine qualities. Just because masculine qualities are more dominant doesn't make God more male than female.
It's all about how we relate to God. We relate to God as a bride, yes. We relate to God as sons, yes. But God also cares for us in the ways usually associated with the best of motherhood.
So I think the 'transcends' language is best. But I thank you all for sharing your opinions on this matter.
Anatomically is the only way to be male. Once you say "male" you automatically say gender. God is Spirit--only one took flesh to become male. The Father and Spirit and not enfleshed, they are spirit, and by definition cannot be gendered.
another vote for transcends gender... if the polls are still open :)
I would basically agree with Aaron, but obviously those voting that God is male would disagree that gender is anatomically based
Jessica...the polls are still open, but I don't allow Australian votes, sorry..j/k
ha. I protest! this is discrimination! :P
Those who disagree that male means anatomy can take it up with Mr Webster. :)
Looks like 'transcends' wins it 6-2.
Glad that is settled! The message board poll seems stuck at 19-19
transcends....
p.s. This question makes me wonder, are you reading "The Shack?"
Actually, this question comes from a combination of a SS class I'm teaching (we've been discussing the Trinity for the past 2 weeks) and a message board poll I saw during that same time period.
Interestingly enough, however, I AM reading the shack right now. He's just now getting to know the Trinity in the shack.
I'm wondering if the wording of the answers is contributing to the split on the message boards. While I agree that God transcends gender, I'm not sure what it means by "God is everything".
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