In His Image

Do you see God as male? Female? Could it be a harmonious blending of both? In her study of cultures that esteem women and a feminine god, Anthropologist and Professor Peggy Reeves-Sanday found little or no instances of rape. Concerning God’s masculine and feminine characteristics, author Andrew Greeley believes that men who include a feminine quality to their picture of God tend to be more proactive to social ills and more spiritually mature. Do these studied points of view give us a peek into what kind of a person God is?

One thing is for sure, when God came as a human, He did not fit into the traditional patriarchal model of His day or in any common model for that matter. Common Jews who misunderstood His character, viewed Him as weak and ill equipped to conquer the Romans. Likewise, the learned sects such as Pharisees and Sadducees were not impressed with Christ’s casual attire and lack of formal credentials. But Christ did not come to advertise Himself, but His Father in heaven and what did Christ advertise? Luke 7 gives us an amazing story... 

One afternoon, Jesus visited a prominent personality – Simon - in his home. “When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.”

 The host of the house, Simon, was disgusted and right away began to warn Jesus of this sinful woman and her reputation. Jesus answered Simon, “Jesus answered him, Simon, and I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.”

God has so much more to teach us about Himself! How can we trust what we study to be true? Try testing all against what God Himself revealed when He came to this earth. He took compassion on prostitutes and healed the blind. He broke bread with betrayers and prayed with thieves. He forgave pimps and priests alike. If you believe He could do this for them, how much more does He do it for us?

God is love.

-S.N. Belmonte  2008