The gender you ascribe to God might reflect your attitude about women and sexual minorities, a new study suggests. In particular, it appears that belief in a male god correlates with greater opposition to same-sex marriage, since the latter conflicts with traditional religious assumptions about the natural order of things. Women who work outside the home and seek reproductive health services are also more likely to face opposition from people who believe in a male god, according to the study. But is it really necessary to ascribe God a gender in the first place?
How Beliefs about God's Gender Shape Social Attitudes
The study was recently published in the Journal of the Scientific Study of Religion and boasts the provocative title "Male and Female He Created Them: Gender Traditionalism, Masculine Images of God, and Attitudes toward Same-Sex Unions". According to the study's findings, "[t]hose who believe God is masculine also hold very traditional views of gender roles", says author Andrew L. Whitehead, a sociologist at Clemson University. Whitehead added that people "who ascribe to a masculine image of God are much more likely to espouse traditional gender ideologies compared to those who do not view God as masculine".
To explore the relationship between "father" gods and social attitudes, Whitehead looked at findings from a 2007 Baylor Religion Survey of 1,648 Americans conducted by the Gallup organization. To define the concept "traditional", he created a gender roles index which measured people's level of agreement with various statements about gender roles. Among these statements were, "A husband should earn a larger salary than his wife", "It is God's will that women care for children", "A preschool child is likely to suffer if his or her mother works", and "Most men are better suited emotionally for politics than most women".
Does God Need a Gender?
Whitehead's findings will confirm the suspicions of many who criticize the heteronormative worldview of patriarchal theologies. He found that people who believe in traditional gender roles created by a male god hold less favorable attitudes to same-sex unions, because they see same-sex couples as subverting these "divinely-ordained" gender roles. This attitude toward same-sex unions is rooted in male domination of women, he explains: "Because God is masculine, and men are a direct representation of God and so receive a certain amount of authority in family life, women are to submit to that authority. Therefore, same-sex unions clash with this understanding of the 'traditional' family and threaten a stable social order, which should, again, comply with the underlying gendered nature of all reality".
In essence, opposition to same-sex marriage, as well as women exercising control over their own destinies, seems to be rooted in patriarchal conceptions of God, Whitehead's study suggests. One might offer that belief in a Goddess would soothe these prejudices against women and LGBT people. Whitehead argues that while research on the effects of belief in a Goddess are scant, it would likely move society in a more "egalitarian direction". Another possibility, though, is to refrain from ascribing God any gender to begin with. That, too, might prove conducive to moving society in a more egalitarian direction, breaking down barriers for women as well as LGBT people. After all, isn't gender a human construct we assign to supernal beings who exist beyond the scope of the human imagination?
It goes without saying that the Universal Life Church Monastery strongly promotes the full equality of women and LGBT people, but we want your thoughts. How much do you think belief in a male god has affected attitudes about the rights of women and sexual minorities? Would a Goddess culture solve the problem, or should we avoid assigning God any gender if we want to live in a truly egalitarian society?
Sources:
Journal of the Scientific Study of Religion
The Huffington Post
57 comments
-
dancingspiritreiki
I refer to it as the Great Spirit. I do not believe that men are superior to me and I do not believe in organized religion for that reason along with the fact that a human should not be threatening anyone with hell as that was not what Jesus was about.
-
Sue Nicholai
I think you are right mandie. I also believe in our egoticalism we missed the fact we are made in God's image because we are spiritiual beings not because physical component. I think God is gender netrual and we create the views instead of accepting. I can understand in the beginning why people worshipped God as a women and also how man began to understand things different worship male figures. If only we can get man to understand. I think the hindu's where on the right track when they understood about atman and Atman.(the small god in me and the big god out there. We are constantly trying to make God more like us instead of us more like God. That is why we treat people so differently in our socities.
-
Jamie Cotton
I agree entirely and really like that you recognized gender neutrality.
-
-
Robert
I see God having a wife, and I know loves God loves us, because we are children. His love extends to rich or poor, without regards to: sexuality, gender, race, or religion. I see God as a Him, and find that God is Love, Truth, Mercy, Justice, Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent,
-
The Northside Irregular
(NOTE: This comment refers to the God worshiped by Judaism, Christianity and Islam only) This is something I've contemplated for years as I've tried to understand how it is that a spiritual being can have a gender. Gender arises from sex, after all, and if you have no physical 'stuff" that you are made of, how can you be sexed. Part of the confusion are the myriad of names for the Judeo-Christian deity in the original texts in Hebrew (the Old Testament). In English, we just use the unbelievably generic term God, which is a direct translation of El in the old texts. In Hebrew, the Creator and Supreme Deity is known by many names, the Tetragrammaton, Elohim, Yahweh, HaShem, and many others (see Names of God in Judaism, there are a lot). El, which is the generic word for God, but is also the name of the Father God of the Canaanites, El had a wife, Asherah, and a son, Ba'al.
At some point, instructions were given in the Hebrew texts to end the worship of Asherah and Ba'al, pull down their poles, burn their groves, and kill their worshippers for they were an abomination (also see Commandment #1). And thus the Canaanite polytheistic religion became the monotheistic religion today known as Judeo-Christianity (with a side of Islam) which clearly indicates that "God" is a male Father God figure, because that is what he was in Canaanite mythology.
However...although the word does not appear in the Hebrew Bible, only rabbinical texts, you find that there was something else going on in those times. Although God is a male Father God, his Divine presence in the temple of the holy of holies is known as the Shekinah, and defined as "the presence or manifestation of God which has descended to "dwell" among humanity." In Christian terms this would refer to the Holy Spirit. Shekinah is a feminine word.
This is why the Messiah is so important in Judaism. The Messiah is supposed to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem so that the Shekinah (God's presence on earth) can return to dwell among humanity. And because Yeshua did not do that, he was not accepted as the Messiah by them. And then centuries of bloodshed between those who did accept him as the Messiah and those who did not resulted.
So, in my belief that I've come to from my own research and contemplation (YMMV), God is a masculine Father God whose Holy Spirit and Divine Presence that dwells among humanity is feminine. God is transgendered, then. His gender presentation is feminine when among humanity.
It is humans who have made corrections and edits to ensure that God is seen only as masculine, and that the feminine which is part of the nature of the deity is not part of Christianity. This has led to the patriarchal system and the oppression of women.
-
Joshua
My friend.You are a very intelligent individual. Thank you.
I know you may disagree. but I get the feeling you may be one to actually research.
Cross reference the bible,with Zoroaster.And then look at the stages of enlightenment or Samadhi.
Ahuru Mazda,Allah,God.All have "someone" before them.That shows them to Truth/God.
Now.Look at prophet mohammad, pbuh See his hand.look behind his head. see jesus,see his hand. Look behind his head. see Zoroaster,see his hand. Look behind his head. see buddah,see his hand,look behind his head.
I cold tell you where the word Thus comes from too.And it's original meaning .
Look at these. zeUs,ZarathUstra,HorUs,JesUs, list goes on
Horus . Sun of Osiris. Your "O"many times is gOd. Jesus son/sun of God.
Please tell me you see I know what I talking about.
All this information came to me in DAYS. no research.
Samadhi.Enlightenment.Transcend.Ascension.
I just want to share.
Will talk to anyone.
Love you all. be good do good.
-
gaelicgrl2012
i am understanding a majority of your post but the "look behind his head" has me confused. what?
-
Joshua
All those character never existed. Stories of enlightenment. Of consciousness. Somehow all those stories apply to now. Everything is symbolic. Horus sun or osiris Jesus sun of god
Ra sungod Chariots of fire=gold Zoroaster =golden camel Bible. Jesus=Sun Old writings talk about a "age of enlightenment "
It is the golden age now.
I dunno my friend. I just experienced full blown "Samadhi/enlightenment " All this stuff is in my thoughts now.
You do see "something " Two conscious sets. Alpha. Omega in physics The son then the father. All cultures same stories.
To have this happen. And watch everyone "babylon" about this and that. Worst thing to watch.
-
Joshua
Just wrote more for you but upon trying to post it. It vanished. Look at pictures of mohammed. Jesus. Buddah and Zoroaster. See the hand. Behind their head is golden suns.
Coincidentally? No thing of such. Think about it. Different cultures different time periods. Same image.
Im no religion scholar. After my fortunate misfortunate event all this stuff I just knew.
"Gifted truth"
-
-
-
-
Jamie Cotton
Actually, gender and sex are two entirely different things. Sex is genitalia. Gender is a spectrum of passive to aggressive. Gender was applied to sex because many people do not realize that gender is a psychological state while sex is a physical state.
-
-
Lynda
While we may differ in our beliefs regarding whether God really is that man in the sky with a white beard, there is one thing I think everyone who believes in a Supreme Being can agree with--that this Being is an Infinite One--a Being who transcends time and space, cultural boundaries and world views. Certainly, then, in order to encompass any sort of "infinite-ness" this Being would also need to transcend the restrictions gender boundaries as well, existing both within and without the duality of our current reality.
-
Joshua
Big One. big O Horus sun of Osiris Jesus son of God.
:)
-
Jamie Cotton
Well, really, there are more than two genders. Gender is a spectrum and many people identify as non-binary, meaning that they do not fit into the traditional duality of male and female. There are many different subsets of non-binary as well; gender is anything but restrictive by boundaries.
-
-
Susan
The overwhelming majority of established religions assign the male to gender to God because their concept of authority is male oriented. In truth, God is a spirit without gender. It is therefore, merely a superstitious assumption that assigns the male gender to God. If we are indeed God's creation then we are all equal in the sight of the deity.
-
J. Paul Lanier
I don't assign God a gender. What would that mean? He has genitals?
-
Susan
Good point!
-
Jamie Cotton
Gender is not determined by genitals. Sex is determined by genitals. Gender is a social construct based upon a passive to aggressive spectrum that is often confused with sex.
-
-
Joshua
That is awful to think. Duelality changes that good friend.Tof many years we have thought like that. What we have done is fed our ego.Lost touch with our Devine spiritual selves. listen.I grow tired of this debate on God.NOBODY WILL LISTEN.If ANYONE.Has any kind of faith. Then do just that.And trust me when I tell you. Look up Samadhi.Enlightenment.Transcend.Ascension. I experienced that from many many years of extremene hardship.I have MUCH proof to back it up. Go look up what Yeshua name really is.Go look up the talk about when God was suppose to send another person down with knowledge of the good word and truth.
You WHT happens when you have this experience.You are gifted TRUTH. I Can not lie of such.
I can explain it in full detail.Back this up from every book out there.They are all the same story.
It is not right that I have knowledge of this in my thoughts and thus far have not shared.
What I have gone through to experience this.Is and was a extremely difficult process.
My health is not the best.All I want to do is share Gods "good word"
With help I can prove all religion is speaking the same story.
Yup.
Imagine.No more fighting.
I have the proof.Would I speak of such if it not to be so.I would not.
I was told myself.To be prepared for this.As it was told to me.And oh how I did not see the truth T the time. "There will be doubt present"
Joshua.
Joshualaplante@outlook.com
I have lost everything. Friends.Family.God gifts you truth.I CAN NOT LIES OF THIS. :) This happened several months go.Look yourself.At the dates when such events were suppose to happen.The Blood Moon. In the bible.The sun.The moon.The star. That is Thus Son.
Have some faith.I have much I could share from the experience.
Take a look at the news. I am certain I see why this has happened now. it has to.I can not do it alone. We have chance to make change.
-
Joshua
I do not think the Dalai Lama has experienced full enlightenment.He has been spreading mistruth.His ego has taken the best of his heart.
-
Michael
We may have souls, but we're still animals, and other social mammals exhibit the same gender roles when it involves caring for offspring. A man may sow the seed, but the child comes from the woman, the woman has mammary glands to feed the child and is hardwired to nurture children, and that is expressed through "traditional" gender roles, just like it is in other mammals. Men have the capacity to grow more muscle than women and are less emotional and more empathically selective, and therefore make better hunters, better warriors, better protectors. That's just the way we're designed to function.
I think that's where it comes from, not any sort of religious culture. We do it because it's in our nature and design as animals, not because of social programming. Most religions affirm human nature through affirmation of family values, so they therefore affirm gender roles that are based in design. Living in an industrial culture of convenience doesn't change that; culture does not change our animal nature.
Not all pastoral and agrarian cultures primarily worshipped a male deity; some primarily worshipped goddesses, but gender roles were the same. Women raised children, and men procured food or money and protected the family. Straying too far from that order in a family setting generally doesn't work out so well for the children. Industrial culture doesn't change that.
1 out of very 5 members of generation Z has a personality disorder; their idealistic gen-X parents caused that with their lack of family order, lack of traditional roles, lack of values. That's the price we pay for straying too far from our animal nature and design. We now have to live with a brain-damaged generation that is a menace to society because of our insistence on pursuing false notions of gender equality. We will likewise have to live with their brain-damaged offspring, because although personality disorders are not inherited, the environment that produces that damage will remain the same.
No one can ride two horses with one ass; that's just the way things are.
-
Bobbinski
Michael, your commentary can easily be proven by taking a look at public schools in the United States over the past 20 years. The deterioration of the traditional family has indeed created two generations of seriously impaired children and the impact will be felt for decades.
-
Jamie Cotton
First of all, you used quite a lot of ableist language with that comment. Please be a bit more respectful to our fellow human beings that just so happen to have a disorder. Some of what you say is correct; the male and female sexes are composed differently. Most of the social differences come from the fact that males produce more sperm as time goes on, and, therefore do not have to protect their ability to procreate, whereas the female sex are born with all of the eggs that they will ever have, so they subconsciously are less likely to take risks. However, this is an outdated phycology that has roots in the Neanderthalic era. Don't you think it is time for change? Change is always opposed by the outgoing generation. The pattern could be easily be seen with an example of slavery.
-
-
Warren Taylor
Freud said that God was nothing more than an infantile projection of the human need for an all-powerful father figure.
-
Jamie Cotton
While I do, for the most part, agree, Freud was pretty wrong like 7.5/10 times. The only other example I can think of of him being right is when he said that you can get off of heroin by using cocaine.
-
-
ltcol20
I think the world could be much more egalitarion and kinder if a gender was NOT assigned to God, the Great Spirit. I many times refer to God as she just to get someone's attention, for them to give this drastic idea some thought.
-
Susan
Exactly! I often say she as well and it usually gets a lot of reaction!
-
Lyn
I agree 100%.
-
-
Joshua
Consciousness has no gender.
It is ego of humans that has created the idea of such silliness.
There shold be duelality amongst us. Men need to respect the Devine femininity of woman. You birth our children.And deserve respect for such.
-
-
Omni Presence
It is consciousness. Once you seen this consciousness. You become it.
I give up.
Intelligence is a curse.
Fact. The world can not handle truth.
The living yeshua. Joshua. Unbelievable .
Zarathustra has had enough.
-
Susan Martin
I think the role of women and God and same sex issues are totally different. For me it was shoved down my throat that men were made in the image of God, thus women were not worthy. I choose to believe in a God{dess} with both masculine and feminine attributes. It is the God that I believe exists....because I believe that God is within. Within US and we are male and/or female so God is both, right?
-
Susan
and neither!
-
Joshua
It's nonsense to think consciousness has gender. Send them to me.I'll set them straight.
It is funny .. God speaks through many.Allah.Ahuru Mazda.Same.
You yourself just now without even knowing it.
You said god is within us.
"US"
Ready.
JesUS.HorUS.YeShUa.JosephUS.ZarathUStra.There are many more.
I do not care about taking credit.But I sat before this devine source and received ALL of information that I believe can help people.
How else would I know all this?
I have never studied this stuff.
Be good do good.
Joshualaplante@outlook.com if anyone ever wants to talk.
-
-
Beverley Dennis
Well, it was interesting to observe all the comment given on this particular subject of "God" and "gods" gender and all that. My thought on the matter is this one point. The God "Alfa and Omega beginning and ending" Rev: 1:9.That's if you believe in the word; commanded the male and female he created like himself Gen 1:27 to do a number of things in V 28. Multiply is the one I chose to end my contribution on. It took a man and a woman to reproduce like-wise seed, which in turn continues until today. Gender was and is still necessary for directive identification, especially for a new generation growing up in a corroded world which doesn't know weather it's coming or going. And You; ULC; need to take a stand. Let your 'yea be yea and your nay be nay.
-
Joshua
Alpha .Omega. Jesus. Then god. Ra.horus. then Osiris.
Not a thing to do with gender.
Not to call you wrong your actually speaking truth.
But think about it. What creates the idea of gender acting so different?
Idiotic men have screwed things up.
It is duelality we are missing. Balance.
This is the worst experience to watch happen.
-
-
Jim
It is what it is. You cannot alter facts just because you want to be politically correct, or fix a problem you think you have. Think about it. Did you find anything in your readings that leads you to believe that God is other than a man? I find nothing wrong with the idea you are speaking about, but this stuff is not made up. All this information has been handed down in one form or another and will continue to be taught this way. Move on......
-
Jamie Cotton
Is there anything that starts directly that god would be man. Why couldn't god be woman? Agender? Gender fluid? Bigender? Pangender? Two-spirit? Ubhatobyanjanaka? Or any other gender?
-
-
Lyn
I find it fascinating that in the Christian-Judeo traditions, people are obsessed with the sex of the deity, but they refuse to allow the deity to be sexual.
-
Lyn
Why are so many folks averse to the idea that Jesus was married? It's as tho people insist on his humanity, but deny him the ability to be human.
-
Joshua
Yeah and mary had a baby with no sex. C'MON PEOPLE. I could tell you what it means. But what's the point.
This is awful. I wish this never happened .
-
Lyn
All considering, I would, in modern terms, consider Mary's conception rape. But all of this is ok because it's god. REALLY?
-
Jamie Cotton
Okay, first off, you are my favorite person in this comment thread. Secondly, I had never even thought of that before and you are completely correct.
-
-
Joshua
It is when someone that has experienced the conscious of "God" Puts his hand out. To a troubled being that is of pure flesh. A virgin. Asks her to take his hand to trust in him. She then does so. And in a moment of trust and love. Devine intervention happens. They share the same consciousness. And she looks up at him and says what just happen.
I can not do this anymore.
At least its logged online.
Every book is about now. The golden age. People are becoming more aware. Why I have been experiencing events from these books I can not explain.
I know what I know and I have yet to find ANYONE that can describe in detail anything I can.
I do not like this. I know what the "good word" of god is. Its our language
I eye sea to see 2 C .
We write words down. We SPELL them. Then CAST them
Our perception is all wrong
Our speech is all that is wrong.
"I dont think I know"
Open a bible.
Would anyone like to know why the word "not" is always in italic. Or there are extra spaces around the word.
-
Jef
People always become more aware. That is evolution.
-
Latasha Danielle Simmons
""He is the Great I Am..."" (such a beautiful song)!! No God, No Peace. Know God, Know Peace! Husband + Wife, with God ALWAYS the head= Secure Strong Families!! (*Individual Comment). Have a very beautiful blessed day!! Latasha Danielle Simmons!!
-
Joshua
I love you all but must I stand firm in my words as they are not thoughts of my own. "In the beginning there was God.And God was good" You have heard of this?
The "good" word. There is deep meaning to that. I now have everything needed to explain with actual written evidence. I speak of only "Truth"
"I AM" -Not- and shall -Not- put it all on here.
Difficult it is writing these words as the way we speak it not in a good way.
Have any of you taken note to the idea the bibles speak and Cleary say it is of a time not yet happened.
"New International Version Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
New Living Translation Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the LORD.
English Standard Version Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:
New American Standard Bible This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.
King James Bible This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
Holman Christian Standard Bible This will be written for a later generation, and a newly created people will praise the LORD:
International Standard Version Write this for the next generation, that a people yet to be created will praise the LORD.
NET Bible The account of his intervention will be recorded for future generations; people yet to be born will praise the LORD.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English This will be written for the following generation; the people to be created will glorify Lord Jehovah
GOD'S WORD® Translation This will be written down for a future generation so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:
Jubilee Bible 2000 This shall be written for the generation to come, and the people who shall be created shall praise JAH.
King James 2000 Bible This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people who shall be created shall praise the LORD.
American King James Version This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
American Standard Version This shall be written for the generation to come; And a people which shall be created shall praise Jehovah.
Douay-Rheims Bible Let these things be written unto another generation: and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord:
Darby Bible Translation This shall be written for the generation to come; and a people that shall be created shall praise Jah:
English Revised Version This shall be written for the generation to come: and a people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
Webster's Bible Translation This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
World English Bible This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise Yah.
Young's Literal Translation This is written for a later generation, And the people created do praise Jah."
I can explain every culture and what they speak of.
Do you see the news? Isis.Isreal.
Have you ever realized the book of Joshua. Speaks of our "Government " Do you think someone walked across the Jordan river into Isreal on foot.
The latest book written. "Disciples Guide To Revelation" in 2012. Still speaks of Israel and the same story.Isis-Ra-El.
It is a bit silly.You are on a website that has the name "Joshua" on it.
Jesus-Yeshua-Yehoshua-Joshua.
I am sorry it has not been a peaceful experience and it still is not.
You may doubt all you desire. I've linked all books. All cultures. Our time. Events. Dialect. And can prove such.
It clearly is written everywhere. "Gift of truth/Knowledge"
Wish I was making this up. It is a bit frightening at times.
Giggle. Call me crazy. Worry free "I Am"
-
Jamie Cotton
I'm sorry I don't see how that is relevant at all.
-
linda
god is simply energy, electric, no gender. there is positive and negative...do with it what you will. WILL is the key word.
-
-
-
Prophet “Joshua” Jesus
Of course you Do Not. As Written Only I see Through the Eyes Of God. Here People. Nasa Is calling me a Alien. I am being Blocked From Contacting people. They have Gone as far as Claiming a Alien is Jesus .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbbfV_QMQyQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWEbBVAk4rk
I am Omipresence. I am Joshua. I Know Of Planet X's True Origin. Yeshua Destroys the Babylonian Dieties.
YOU ALL HAVE FOGOT ONE KEY ELEMENT!
You have such Good in you. That you Turned Your head to the other Stories in the Books.
"There was no room for Jesus in the inn. As He grew older, there was no room for Jesus in His own family. He was rejected by His own family. He went into the temple and there was no room in the temple. He went back to His own town, and they rejected Him... "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary... And they were offended at him" (Mark 6:3). And when He died, there was no room in the city to bury Him. He died outside the city. Isaiah 53:3, "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.""
While You all Sleep in Your Warm Beds With Your Family. I sit here Fighting For what i Know is True. I have Driven everyone i love away. It is not Easy being around me. I did this for YOU. I have no Food. I have no Vehicle. My Lights are getting shut off. And i will Sit here till i die.
-The Prodigal Son-
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is found in Luke chapter 15, verses 11-32. The main character in the parable, the forgiving father, whose character remains constant throughout the story, is a picture of God. In telling the story, Jesus identifies Himself with God in His loving attitude to the lost. The younger son symbolizes the lost (the tax collectors and sinners of that day,Luke 15:1), and the elder brother represents the self-righteous (the Pharisees and teachers of the law of that day,Luke 15:2). The major theme of this parable seems not to be so much the conversion of the sinner, as in the previous two parables ofLuke 15, but rather the restoration of a believer into fellowship with the Father. In the first two parables, the owner went out to look for what was lost (Luke 15:1-10), whereas in this story the father waits and watches eagerly for his son's return. We see a progression through the three parables from the relationship of one in a hundred (Luke 15:1-7), to one in ten (Luke 15:8-10), to one in one (Luke 15:11-32), demonstrating God’s love for each individual and His personal attentiveness towards all humanity. We see in this story the graciousness of the father overshadowing the sinfulness of the son, as it is the memory of the father’s goodness that brings the prodigal son to repentance (Romans 2:4).
We will begin unfolding the meaning of this parable at verse 12, in which the younger son asks his father for his share of his estate, which would have been half of what his older brother would receive; in other words, 1/3 for the younger, 2/3 for the older (Deuteronomy 21:17). Though it was perfectly within his rights to ask, it was not a loving thing to do, as it implied that he wished his father dead. Instead of rebuking his son, the father patiently grants him his request. This is a picture of God letting a sinner go his own way (Deuteronomy 30:19). We all possess this foolish ambition to be independent, which is at the root of the sinner persisting in his sin (Genesis 3:6;Romans 1:28). A sinful state is a departure and distance from God (Romans 1:21). A sinful state is also a state of constant discontent.Luke 12:15says, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” This son learned the hard way that covetousness leads to a life of dissatisfaction and disappointment. He also learned that the most valuable things in life are the things you cannot buy or replace.
In verse 13 we read that he travels to a distant country. It is evident from his previous actions that he had already made that journey in his heart, and the physical departure was a display of his willful disobedience to all the goodness his father had offered (Proverbs 27:19;Matthew 6:21;12:34). In the process, he squanders all his father had worked so hard for on selfish, shallow fulfillment, losing everything. His financial disaster is followed by a natural disaster in the form of a famine, which he failed to plan for (Genesis 41:33-36). At this point he sells himself into physical slavery to a Gentile and finds himself feeding pigs, a detestable job to the Jewish people (Leviticus 11:7;Deuteronomy 14:8;Isaiah 65:4;66:17). Needless to say, he must have been incredibly desperate at that point to willingly enter into such a loathsome position. And what an irony that his choices led him to a position in which he had no choice but to work, and for a stranger at that, doing the very things he refused to do for his father. To top it off, he apparently was paid so little that he longed to eat the pig’s food. Just when he must have thought life could not get any worse, he couldn’t even find mercy among the people. Apparently, once his wealth was gone, so were his friends. The text clearly says, “No one gave him anything” (vs. 16). Even these unclean animals seemed to be better off than he was at this point. This is a picture of the state of the lost sinner or a rebellious Christian who has returned to a life of slavery to sin (2 Peter 2:19-21). It is a picture of what sin really does in a person’s life when he rejects the Father’s will (Hebrews 12:1;Acts 8:23). “Sin always promises more than it gives, takes you further than you wanted to go, and leaves you worse off than you were before.” Sin promises freedom but brings slavery (John 6:23).
The son begins to reflect on his condition and realizes that even his father's servants had it better than he. His painful circumstances help him to see his father in a new light and bring him hope (Psalm 147:11;Isaiah 40:30-31;Romans 8:24-25;1 Timothy 4:10). This is reflective of the sinner when he/she discovers the destitute condition of his life because of sin. It is a realization that, apart from God, there is no hope (Ephesians 2:12;2 Timothy 2:25-26). This is when a repentant sinner “comes to his senses” and longs to return to the state of fellowship with God which was lost when Adam sinned (Genesis 3:8). The son devises a plan of action. Though at a quick glance it may seem that he may not be truly repentant, but rather motivated by his hunger, a more thorough study of the text gives new insights. He is willing to give up his rights as his father’s son and take on the position of his servant. We can only speculate on this point, but he may even have been willing to repay what he had lost (Luke 19:8;Leviticus 6:4-5). Regardless of the motivation, it demonstrates a true humility and true repentance, not based on what he said but on what he was willing to do and eventually acted upon (Acts 26:20). He realizes he had no right to claim a blessing upon return to his father’s household, nor does he have anything to offer, except a life of service, in repentance of his previous actions. With that, he is prepared to fall at his father’s feet and hope for forgiveness and mercy. This is exactly what conversion is all about: ending a life of slavery to sin through confession to the Father and faith in Jesus Christ and becoming a slave to righteousness, offering one’s body as a living sacrifice (1 John 1:9;Romans 6:6-18;12:1).
Jesus portrays the father as waiting for his son, perhaps daily searching the distant road, hoping for his appearance. The father notices him while he was still a long way off. The father’s compassion assumes some knowledge of the son’s pitiful state, possibly from reports sent home. During that time it was not the custom of men to run, yet the father runs to greet his son (vs.20). Why would he break convention for this wayward child who had sinned against him? The obvious answer is because he loved him and was eager to show him that love and restore the relationship. When the father reaches his son, not only does he throw his arms around him, but he also greets him with a kiss of love (1 Peter 5:14). He is so filled with joy at his son’s return that he doesn’t even let him finish his confession. Nor does he question or lecture him; instead, he unconditionally forgives him and accepts him back into fellowship. The father running to his son, greeting him with a kiss and ordering the celebration is a picture of how our Heavenly Father feels towards sinners who repent. God greatly loves us, patiently waits for us to repent so he can show us His great mercy, because he does not want any to perish nor escape as though by the fire (Ephesians 2:1-10;2 Peter 3:9;1 Corinthians 3:15).
This prodigal son was satisfied to return home as a slave, but to his surprise and delight is restored back into the full privilege of being his father’s son. He had been transformed from a state of destitution to complete restoration. That is what God's grace does for a penitent sinner (Psalm 40:2;103:4). Not only are we forgiven, but we receive a spirit of sonship as His children, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, of His incomparable riches (Romans 8:16-17;Ephesians 1:18-19). The father then orders the servants to bring the best robe, no doubt one of his own (a sign of dignity and honor, proof of the prodigal’s acceptance back into the family), a ring for the son's hand (a sign of authority and sonship) and sandals for his feet (a sign of not being a servant, as servants did not wear shoes—or, for that matter, rings or expensive clothing, vs.22). All these things represent what we receive in Christ upon salvation: the robe of the Redeemer's righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), the privilege of partaking of the Spirit of adoption (Ephesians 1:5), and feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, prepared to walk in the ways of holiness (Ephesians 6:15). A fattened calf is prepared, and a party is held (notice that blood was shed = atonement for sin,Hebrews 9:22). Fatted calves in those times were saved for special occasions such as the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26-32). This was not just any party; it was a rare and complete celebration. Had the boy been dealt with according to the Law, there would have been a funeral, not a celebration. “The Lord does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” (Psalm 103:10-13). Instead of condemnation, there is rejoicing for a son who had been dead but now is alive, who once was lost but now is found (Romans 8:1;John 5:24). Note the parallel between “dead” and “alive” and “lost” and “found”—terms that also apply to one’s state before and after conversion to Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5). This is a picture of what occurs in heaven over one repentant sinner (Luke 15: 7,10).
Now to the final and tragic character in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the oldest son, who, once again, illustrates the Pharisees and the scribes. Outwardly they lived blameless lives, but inwardly their attitudes were abominable (Matthew 23:25-28). This was true of the older son who worked hard, obeyed his father, and brought no disgrace to his family or townspeople. It is obvious by his words and actions, upon his brothers return, that he is not showing love for his father or brother. One of the duties of the eldest son would have included reconciliation between the father and his son. He would have been the host at the feast to celebrate his brother’s return. Yet he remains in the field instead of in the house where he should have been. This act alone would have brought public disgrace upon the father. Still, the father, with great patience, goes to his angry and hurting son. He does not rebuke him as his actions and disrespectful address of his father warrant (vs.29, “Look,” he says, instead of addressing him as “father” or “my lord”), nor does his compassion cease as he listens to his complaints and criticisms. The boy appeals to his father's righteousness by proudly proclaiming his own self-righteousness in comparison to his brother’s sinfulness (Matthew 7:3-5). By saying, “This son of yours,” the older brother avoids acknowledging that the prodigal is his own brother (vs. 30). Just like the Pharisees, the older brother was defining sin by outward actions, not inward attitudes (Luke 18:9-14). In essence, the older brother is saying that he was the one worthy of the celebration, and his father had been ungrateful for all his work. Now the one who had squandered his wealth was getting what he, the older son, deserved. The father tenderly addresses his oldest as “my son” (vs. 31) and corrects the error in his thinking by referring to the prodigal son as “this brother of yours” (vs. 32). The father’s response, “We had to celebrate,” suggests that the elder brother should have joined in the celebration, as there seems to be a sense of urgency in not postponing the celebration of the brother’s return.
The older brother’s focus was on himself, and as a result there is no joy in his brother’s arrival home. He is so consumed with issues of justice and equity that he fails to see the value of his brother’s repentance and return. He fails to realize that “anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him” (1 John 2:9-11). The older brother allows anger to take root in his heart to the point that he is unable to show compassion towards his brother, and, for that matter he is unable to forgive the perceived sin of his father against him (Genesis 4:5-8). He prefers to nurse his anger rather than enjoy fellowship with his father, brother and the community. He chooses suffering and isolation over restoration and reconciliation (Matthew 5:24,6:14-15). He sees his brother’s return as a threat to his own inheritance. After all, why should he have to share his portion with a brother who has squandered his? And why hadn’t his father rejoiced in his presence through his faithful years of service?
The wise father seeks to bring restoration by pointing out that all he has is and has always been available for the asking to his obedient son, as it was his portion of the inheritance since the time of the allotment. The older son never utilized the blessings at his disposal (Galatians 5:22;2 Peter 1:5-8). This is similar to the Pharisees with their religion of good works. They hoped to earn blessings from God and in their obedience merit eternal life (Romans 9:31-33;10:3). They failed to understand the grace of God and failed to comprehend the meaning of forgiveness. It was, therefore, not what they did that became a stumbling block to their growth but rather what they did not do which alienated them from God (Matthew 23:23-24,Romans 10:4). They were irate when Jesus was receiving and forgiving “unholy” people, failing to see their own need for a Savior. We do not know how this story ended for the oldest son, but we do know that the Pharisees continued to oppose Jesus and separate themselves from His followers. Despite the father’s pleading for them to “come in,” they refused and were the ones who instigated the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:59). A tragic ending to a story filled with such hope, mercy, joy, and forgiveness.
The picture of the father receiving the son back into relationship is a picture of how we should respond to repentant sinners as well (1 John 4:20-21;Luke 17:3;Galatians 6:1;James 5:19-20). “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We are included in that “all,” and we must remember that “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” apart from Christ (Isaiah 64:6;John 15:1-6). It is only by God’s grace that we are saved, not by works that we may boast of (Ephesians 2:9;Romans 9:16;Psalm 51:5). That is the core message of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
-
Susan
God is a spirit without gender or sex.
I think it's more "God is a man like me - in my own image" attitude that could be a benefactor to the gender equality ideals. However, I feel like a Goddess would have an adverse effect. Here, because the overwhelming majority see God as a man, a person seeing a Goddess is out of the norm and that person is more likely to be open minded because of that fact alone. It takes a strong person to push against the tides.
Think of this: If the majority believed in a higher female power, those who did not would have the more open mind. An example would be the Amazons from the Wonder Woman comics or that episode of Futurama with the planet of women who serve the female robot. In those cases, man are seen as inferior and subservient, just as our culture attempts to view women.
I don't agree, but your point is a good one. Thought provoking.
According to scripture, God is a Spirit. Spirit has no flesh, bones or blood. It also states that NO man has ever seen God. God is like a circle, no beginning and no ending. Since God is Spirit and is in you, me and everyone around the world, God has no form. For us to SEE God, God must come in a form. A burning bush; a Angel; a Dove; a pillar of cloud; a pillar of fire; a donkey and the High Priest Melchizedek and of course Jesus. The list can go on according to the beliefs of humans to include, Mohamed, Buddha and any number of beliefs within our world. For any of us to try and place a "human" factor to God is ridiculous. God is a Spirit that is the Universe. Always present in events good and bad. Never leaving and always present. God is what people want God to be. I can accept God as energy that fills our Universe and lives within every living and non living thing. All that is was and is created by this Energy we call God/Universe. I am a Christian and choose to believe in Christ but I also believe that ALL people regardless of belief is serving the same God we serve regardless of what name they attribute that God. I am NOT one who believes literal in the words of the bible. I do believe in many truths within the scripture.
I agree wholeheartedly.
Your thoughts could have saved humanity its humanity.
Pretty good comment there, Jack. If God is Spirit (and I don't disagree), then there is no gender. For those whose accept either gender of male of female, this will play havoc on their minds. For some, they just aren't going to open up their mind to explore this idea. For some, it is one way or no way.
Another Jack
We may worship God as Father, we may worship God as Mother. In the human family unit, mother is feeling and father reason. From a childs prospective mother appears to proffer more sympathy than the father. Therefore mother is closer than the father.
The world known Taosist Symbol for Yin-Yang clearly shows male-female in perfect balance, harmony and equality. A spinning gyroscopic wheel of pulsating concentric cosmic energy.