He Said, She Said: A Personal Journey Through the Use of Inclusive Language

I really appreciate this column and Theresa's thoughts about this topic. Attentiveness to word choice is not just a "PC" thing. It's an opportunity to explore the richness and variety and shadows of language. Much of the Bible was written by poets. Many of those who interpret the Bible are not. So when it comes to the language we use in as the medium for our common or public worship, I suggest erring on the side of the poets--asking how would a poet or artist address God in this situation?

It is important to use language in ways that invite people in to learn more about God. However, we can't lose sight of who God actually is and how He has revealed Himself in His Word. Certainly God has many attributes of both female and male humans as we are all made in His image. He has chosen to reveal Himself in the masculine however, and no matter how much we may want to refer to Him as a "her" or combining God with goddess to become Godde, the fact remains that there is not a single instance in the Word where He refers to Himself in the feminine. Jesus, being the second person of the Trinity constantly refers to God as His Father. God has many names, to be certain, and it is important not to lose sight of all that He is, but to ignore the important perfect Father aspects of God is to ignore a great part of who God is.

Thank you for writing about the importance of how we address God. Some years ago I decided I preferred the old name Yashua. It it melodic and makes me think of the early years of Christianity, untainted by doctrine, creeds, dogma. I don't think of Yashua as either male or female, but way beyond whatever we can imagine.I think too much concern about the male/female aspect tends to bring God down to our level.

Words are important and it is important to understand that words used in the Bible were the best attempt to make people understand the inexplicable, so they are inherently insufficient.

I think Mary Daly said it best: Because God is male, the male is God. My reason for using gender neutral language has more to do with justice for our global community than comfort or feelings of inclusion for individuals.

Women world-wide suffer because they are seen as less than men. I suspect the author's son sees God as male, not because of any message she has given about God, but because of the message that society radiates that male is normative, superior and preferable.

God has many names, to be certain, and it is important not to lose sight of all God is, but to ignore the important perfect Mother aspects of God is to ignore a great part of who God is.

The Bible uses metaphors of God-as-feminine, too, though these are conveniently overlooked because we continue to assume that God only reveals Himself as He in the Bible. I'm sorry Mr. Tate has not read these parts of the Word.

Excellent article, Theresa!

Numbers 11:12 Moses asked, "Was it I who conceived all this people? or was it I who gave them birth

The Bible ascribes feminine characteristics to God in the same way it sometimes ascribes such traits to human males.
Numbers 11:12 Moses asked, "Was it I who conceived all this people? or was it I who gave them birth

There are numerous references in the Old Testament to God with feminine connotations. These references are found in the original Hebrew (because all Hebrew words are gender specific) and not in any English translation (because not all English words are gender specific). The Hebrew word "shekhinah" (a feminine noun meaning both inhabit/dwell and royalty) has many variations (like "mishkan" and "shahkan") which are used over and over again in the Old Testament (for example, Ex. 24:15-17, Ex. 40:34-38, Kings 3:15, 1 Samuel 10:5-6, Isaiah 6:1, Eze. 11:23, Zec. 8:3) and are typically translated to "presence", "glory", "spirit" or "dwelling", denoting the physical manifestation of God's presence. The Talmud tells us that it is the "shekhinah" of God that guided the Israelites out of Egypt as fire and smoke, rested in the Holy of Hollies, appeared to Moses in the burning bush and inspired prophets to prophesy and Kind David to write his psalms. The Greek term "parousia", also a feminine word (literally meaning "presence"), is used in the New Testament in a similar to indicate Christs divine presence (out of the 24 times it is used, 18 refer to the second coming).
Also, the "bat kol" (literally translated means "daughter of a voice" meaning, but has been traditionally translated as "an echo", "whisper", "voice from heaven" or "small voice") is also a feminine presence that acts as the audible voice of God throughout the Old Testament (see for example Deut 4:12, Ezek 1:28, I Kings 19:12

More than twenty years ago I had the opportunity to worship at a service at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Ames, Iowa, where, that day, the liturgy, the Bible readings, the prayers and all references to God were all focused on women and feminine images of God. I had not thought that "God the Father" was exclusive until I, as a man, experienced that service and the feeling of non-inclusion in the worship. Since then I have been a proponent of inclusive images of God and, even though I am probably still most comfortable with a male image of God, I have been blessed with many diverse and expanded images of God which have enriched my experience of Christianity.

I did not overlook the feminine aspects of God, as I said God includes aspects of both male and female humans since we are both made in His image. However, when referring to Himself, God always uses the masculine. There are metaphors of God displaying his attributes that to humans are more feminine but that does not negate the fact that Jesus was God as man, and the Father is always referred to in the masculine.

Doesn't "Yahweh" mean "I am who I am"? No reference to gender.

No one is denying that Jesus had the physical body of a man, or that he addressed God as Father. However, I don't believe the use of the word "Father" makes God masculine, because, as I've stated, God has no physical body to denote gender. All that the use of the title "Father" reveals to us is that Jesus' relationship with God was like that of a relationship between a father and a son and that there were other times in the Bible when people recognized that God was acting as a Father to them or a group of people. The title "Father" denotes character and behavioral traits, rights and responsibilities (as it was in those times quite literally an office to hold within the family, recognized as the final authority, provider and protectors with respect to the family), rather than gender.

That said, is it too far fetched to consider that our translations of the Bible use masculine pronouns to refer to God because the male has traditionally been, of the two genders, the one imbued with power, authority, person-hood, independence and the responsibilities to care for, provide for and protect the family unit? Is it too far-fetched to guess that, despite the use of feminine nouns throughout the Old Testament to describe the spirit of God, well-intentioned men throughout history have used "he", "him" and "his" to talk about God because they thought God should be male, not because God is actually a male?

The idea that most of the references in the Bible toward the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of God apparently have female connotations or are referred to in feminine ways could lead us to think that at least one aspect of our triune God is more feminine in characteristic than others, which again could lead us to suppose that God (as one being, not just God the Father), identifies with neither of our human notions of male or female, but is perhaps a harmonious combination of both, continuously unified and complimenting, revealing themselves to us in different ways in different circumstances.

I can agree that perhaps the feminine attributes of God have been ignored in the church, however I think it is just as dangerous to go to far the other direction as it appears the author of this post has done. Although she says "Inclusive language does not mean fully eliminating male language" in the paragraph just below that she says her 6 year old son has never heard her refer to God in the masculine and there is no mention of it in the sunday school literature that she produces. That is what I was referring to in saying that ignoring the masculine aspects of God is to ignore a great part of who He is.

Quite interesting if your understanding of the Bible and Faith is in the traditional Our heavenly Father Who Art In heaven that is somehow any more intolerant then suggesting the need for a She in reference to God . To even consider that Jesus , a male is somehow promoting males over females is about the same basic self righteousness that considers we can change the Bible in order to somehow make it better , in attempt to fit our culture or correct our own prejudices of male and females. As if we have the ability through changing words in the Bible to change our hearts , Does not God change those Hearts, or do we now believe the Bible is God ? Many do not take literaly or even Inspired by God the Bible in mainstream denominations. What else can we change to fit our culture ? Is very important to understand the Bible, but to criticize anyone who believes in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost and thinks they are anyless in having the ability to have a relationship with God in the intimidate and loving manner is quite out of bounds .
Good book to read is called the Shack. Many people have problems with it because it takes all the religiousity out and just makes it so clear and simple that God Loves us. But God is a Black women , well its a good book. Might be good for some here to picture God as James Dobson.

I agree with the concept of helping others to allow us to understand God loves us for just who we are, , but its so obvious that is not what is happening here. Once again there is my way is good , the other way is not inclusive.

Having that said I totally understand the conversation, but it is quite strange the tolerance here is so intolerant. Many come from abusive homes have a problem with even believing God can love us without us jumping through hoops or WE DOING SOMETHING TO PLEASE HIM . The problem is we as humans having such clutterer minds we put roadblocks from all our owies to stop God from lving us .

Why does so often our attempts to be inclusive reveal just how unwilling we are to respect anothers view . Or even attempt to.

I have no problem recognizing that Jesus Christ was a male. So I always refer to Him with masculine pronouns.

However, I remember when I was very young: I kept hearing "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." In those days, the Episcopal Church (where I was raised) had all male priests and even had an all-male choir. I was in Communion Class in the 8th grade and I remember I had studied Greek and Roman gods, where the gods were both male and female. So I pondered to myself: "everything is Father, Son, And Holy Ghost, male priests, male choir. Where are the women?" And I ended up leaving the church and leaving Christianity behind for many years.

Many years later, when I heard churches beginning to use some inclusive lanaguage, I got drawn back toe Christianity. In the Episcopal Church, we still say "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." But we have male and female priests and choirs. So I've returned to the church of my childhood. And just recently, my church has become completely inclusive when it comes to LGBT people.

Completely agree with you. The pendulum swing is a dangerous movement and we should always learn towards moderation and balance.

Is it possible that the issue is deeper and therefore more threatening than we have imagined? Is it possible that it is more than including all persons, or recognizing the feminine in 'God'? Is it possible changing language threatens our understanding of 'God'? And is that just too scary, especially for evangelicals who have such a close personal relationship with 'God the Father' and Jesus 'our brother'? I am realizing that I relate to the Jewish concept of not naming the Deity; it is too complex and too awe-some for me to comprehend. I gave up 'God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost' for 'Creator, Christ and Spirit', i often pray to Mother or the Goddess in my personal devotions and yes sometimes when I lead worship. I am so weary of God the masculine, and I agree with Mary Daly, and I perceive it as blasphemous to worship the male. nor do I believe we should worship the female; but God is so much more than we can imagine. I would like a community that calls a moratorium on all God language so it will cool off and and we let it settle and see what Spirit brings forth. Until then, I stand in awe of God's Love and will follow where I am being led.