her-nal
Mike Abendroth
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God’s Revelation or (Wo)Man’s Interpretation: Abingdon Press has recently published a new 284-song supplement to the official United Methodist Hymnal. Entitled The Faith We Sing, the new collection of hymns "...fills a need for diversity among the denomination" says its editor Hoyt Hickman. Normally hymnal supplements draw little attention; but not so for this new supplement. Songs containing words like "Mothering Christ," "Womb of Life," and "strong mother God" show that the real diversity involves a diverse and unwarranted view of God.
What standard should Christians use to understand God? Deuteronomy 6:4 (NKJ) proclaims "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one," and yet Romans 11:33 remarks "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!" Biblical Christians, then, find themselves confronted by the God of unsearchable, infinite depth and also the God who reveals Himself in a simplicity - a oneness - that even children can understand. Steering away from God’s revelation as found in the Bible, however, places Christians in unfamiliar territory without a trustworthy guide. So, to understand, worship, and honor God, Christians can do no better than stick like super-glue to His revelation in the Bible. After all, the only trustworthy guide to God is God Himself.
God’s Word - His revelation of Himself - does not allow for worship that refers to "Him" as "Her" or switches "Father" to "Mother." In Luke 10:22, Jesus states: "...no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." Christian knowledge of God is wrapped up in the God that Christ reveals. Since Jesus calls Him Father (and not Mother), Christians must do the same. Furthermore, John 4:23 explains that "...those that worship Him [not "Her"] must worship in Spirit and Truth." Can Christians substitute more culturally-friendly terms and pronouns for God’s trustworthy revelation of Himself to Christians? Certainly not. God sets the rules of His own revelation - not culture or pleas for diversity! |
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Thanks.
„Und das Wort wurde Fleisch und wohnte unter
uns; und wir sahen seine Herrlichkeit, eine
Herrlichkeit als des Eingeborenen vom Vater,
voller Gnade und Wahrheit.“ Johannes 1:1, 14
Wir wünschen euch ein gesegnete
Weihnachtsfest!
Mike Abendroth