Share this. Who Is God? David Sanford Crosswalk. Today on Christianity. Is Thanksgiving Truly a Christian Holiday? About Christianity. They used masculine language because they wished to emphasize that God is a leader, a provider, and a disciplinarian, all of which were roles associated with men.
But as Oxford professor Alister McGrath points out:. The statement that "a father in ancient Israelite society is a suitable model for God" is not equivalent to saying that "God is male" or that "God is confined to the cultural parameters of ancient Israel. In light of increasing concerns about language and gender, some Christian denominations have made official statements rejecting the notion that God is male or female. One notable example is the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which explains:.
By calling God "Father," the language of faith indicates two main things: that God is the first origin of everything and transcendent authority; and that he is at the same time goodness and loving care for all his children. God's parental tenderness can also be expressed by the image of motherhood, which emphasizes God's immanence, the intimacy between Creator and creature.
We ought therefore to recall that God transcends the human distinction between the sexes. He is neither man nor woman; he is God. He also transcends human fatherhood and motherhood, although he is their origin and standard. Many individual Christians have also begun to emphasize the importance of gender-inclusive language when talking about God.
This usually involves replacement of masculine terms such as "Father" and "Son" with neutral terms such as "Parent" and "Child," and avoidance of pronouns for God altogether, both of which can present a linguistic challenge.
It is also controversial - critics argue that these changes can result in loss of meaning and do not give enough weight to God's self-revelation. These days, the word saint is most commonly used to refer to a Christian who has lived a particularly good and holy life on earth, and with whom miracles are claimed to have been associated after their death.
The formal title of Saint is conferred by the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches through a process called canonisation. Members of these Churches also believe that Saints created in this way can intercede with God on behalf of people who are alive today. This is not accepted by most Protestants. In the Bible , however, the word saint is used as a description of anyone who is a committed believer, particularly by St.
Paul in the New Testament e. Ephesians 1. The New Testament records that Jesus taught his disciples how to pray and that he encouraged them to address God as Father. Christians believe that they continue this tradition. Whilst prayer is often directed to God as Father, as taught by Jesus, some traditions encourage prayer to God through intermediaries such as saints and martyrs.
Prayers through Mary , as the mother of God, are central to some churches and form a traditional part of their worship. The Christian church is fundamental to believers. Although it has many faults it is recognised as God's body on earth. The church is the place where the Christian faith is nurtured and where the Holy Spirit is manifest on earth.
Yet this powerful Person — for He is a Person, not an it, a thing, or a power — chose to reveal Himself to man, and He did so in two ways:. First, nature reveals the fact that our world was created. He always was, and always will be. How do I know this? Confirming His revelation in nature, God told us more about Himself in the Bible, which is a very special Book given by God.
Now, there is one more part to the answer that you need to complete the picture.
0コメント