On yesterday's CBN Live we somehow got talking about whether or not God is a man. Someone said we should pray to the God/Goddess. I made the comment that trying to anthropomorphize God that way is wrong.

Holy cow. A hundred people got their undies in a wad over that comment, posting flaming comments that HOW DARE I SAY GOD IS NOT A MAN! After all, we call him father!

This stems from bad theology.

In Christian theology, the understanding that God is not bound by human categories like male or female stems from His nature as transcendent and infinite. God is spirit, without physical form, as stated in John 4:24: "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

However, God is referred to as "Father" for several reasons, primarily to convey relational aspects of His character and His role within the divine order:

Relational Language: "Father" is a term that signifies authority, care, provision, and intimate relationship, reflecting how God relates to humanity. The Bible uses familial language to describe God's covenant with His people, emphasizing a personal and loving relationship, much like that between a father and his children.

Revelation in Scripture: God reveals Himself as Father throughout the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament (e.g., Deuteronomy 32:6, Isaiah 63:16) and more explicitly in the New Testament, where Jesus consistently addresses God as Father (e.g., Matthew 6:9, John 17:1-5). This is a part of how God chose to communicate His nature to humanity.

Cultural and Historical Context: In the ancient Near Eastern context, patriarchal systems were prevalent, and referring to God as "Father" made sense within those societal frameworks, as it communicated authority and care in a way people could understand.

God’s Nature: While "Father" is used, this does not imply God has a gender like humans. The Bible sometimes uses maternal imagery to describe God's care and compassion (e.g., Isaiah 66:13, Matthew 23:37), suggesting that God embodies qualities we associate with both fathers and mothers.

In essence, calling God "Father" aligns with the relational and revelatory aspects of His nature, rather than implying God is male in a physical or literal sense.