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Is God Male?
Is God Male?
Let’s first assert undeniable facts:
1. God is not male in the sense of sexuality. False gods were very much the sex in which they were depicted. The myths give stories describing such. Male and female sexuality is for propagating and even the angels, although likewise described as male, are not physically so (Matthew 22).
2. God is depicted in both male and female depictions. Since the masculine pictures are more prevalent, I will here only list female ones: Numbers 11:12; Deuteronomy 32:18; Isaiah 66:13.
3. God is mainly, mostly, and overwhelming described as masculine or male, both in his own words and those descriptive of him by others.
Read these quotes before going further:
• “God is, of course, masculine, but not in the sense of sexual distinction” (J. L. McKenzie). And in response,
• “This is the sort of nonsense statement which philosophers of the linguistic school delight in dissecting (Mary Daly)
Is such “nonsense”? Are there traits in humans that are more associated with masculinity and femininity even if possessed by the opposite sex?
Since there is no doubt Scripture describes God as masculine, we must first ask why?
• A low view of inspiration (not meant to be derogatory but descriptive) would say a patriarchal culture bias describes God as masculine.
• A high view of inspiration would say God is described as masculine, even though he is not sexually male; therefore God means to communicate through this overwhelmingly masculine picture.
The latter is further seen in God incarnate as male. God chose to be a Son and Father to communicate. This is again seen as the Son takes on the role of bridegroom which likewise communicates.
If we take the high view of inspiration, then we accept this is God’s preferred identity as roles are communicative. As an aside, “funny” how people today demand to be addressed by their preffered pronouns and yet deny God his!
So why would God reveal himself as male, or masculine overwhelmingly? What is God conveying? Think about the roles of a father, son, and husband or bridegroom. They mean something, and we can’t just claim culturally so, if we take a high view of inspiration. I’ll leave that thought for you to search the scriptures to discover.
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