God is Father Part 3: What Jesus Ain't Sayin'

When Jesus invites us to pray "our Father" it's important that we understand what he's not saying as well as what he is saying.

1. Jesus is not saying that God is a man. God is not "gendered." He transcends gender.

2. In the same vein, femininity and womanhood is not foreign to God. God transcends gender but he does so in such a way that both the masculine and feminine are present in Himself, not foreign to him. Sometimes "transcendent" can come across as so far removed from something that it has no dealing or part of it. But this is not the case with God. In Himself is the very essence of masculinity and femininity. Both male and female are image-bearers.

In fact, there's a strong tradition in the Old Testament of associating God with wisdom. God is wisdom and wisdom, rightly understood, is God. And wisdom is almost exclusively referred to by the feminine article, particularly in the book of Proverbs. If you want to get in touch with God's feminine side, take a look at Proverbs and how wisdom is personified, active, pursuing, calling out, inviting people in. The feminine wisdom of God is a powerful part of the character and nature of God.

3. Finally, as Jesus invites us to pray "our Father," there's one last thing that I think he's not saying. I don't think he's just speaking metaphorically. I don't think he's just grasping for an earthly image or something that we can understand...