Biblical Pronouns For God Include Feminine Ones: How Do We Utilize Them? - Aaron Potek

The concept of a feminine component to God has roots in traditional Judaism.

Although God in the Hebrew Bible is predominantly described using masculine imagery and pronouns (especially when translated into English, which lacks any gender neutral pronouns), there are several instances where feminine imagery and pronouns are used.

After all, the concept of a feminine component to God has roots in traditional Judaism.

For those of us who works with language in a church leadership setting (songs, liturgy, preaching, etc.), there are a few ways to work with this issue, including:

1) Use female pronouns for God.  While referring to God as "she" might distracting since we're not accustomed to it, that concern may be outweighed by the significant downside of using exclusively male pronouns for God.

2) Remove all pronouns for referring to God. While this may technically be the most accurate way to speak about God, it can be linguistically challenging. Nevertheless, avoiding gendered pronouns may be the best way to disentangle God, and, by extension, conceptions of authority, from destructive affiliations with a particular gender.

3) Use the singular "they." The first human is referred to as “them” in Genesis 1:27. In Genesis 1:26, God says, "let US make man in OUR image."

Yes, changing the way we speak about God can feel daunting. But these changes can be viewed as progress, moving us away from a flawed conception of God as “masculine.”

Maybe these changes can bring us closer to the fulfillment of the second commandment: “You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image, or any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below…” (Exodus 20:4).

The full article is available here

Christian Humanitarian Group Responds To Trump Trying To Change US Asylum Law - World Relief

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1158

"To attempt to restrict the right to request asylum is both morally troubling and legally questionable,” said World Relief senior vice president Emily B. Gray. 

"Our staff have witnessed those seeking asylum being told to wait for several weeks before being allowed to lawfully present their claims at the port of entry, which is why some have availed themselves of the legal option of requesting asylum elsewhere, as explicitly permitted by U.S. law.

To attempt to restrict the right to request asylum is both morally troubling and legally questionable,” said World Relief senior vice president Emily B. Gray.

“While we call upon our government to follow U.S. law as it adjudicates each case, we also are mindful of the role of the church," said World Relief president Scott Arbeiter.

"Jesus instructs to love our neighbors, and he made clear in his parable of the Good Samaritan that the ‘neighbor’ whom we are called to love could specifically include a foreign traveler in need."

"We encourage Christians throughout the country to respond with Christ-like compassion to the plight of these individuals, and to advocate with our elected officials to ensure that life-saving asylum protections within U.S. law are not disregarded.”

The full article is available here

Religious Right's Disturbing Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Video: Attack On Christian Social Justice Organizations

The open letter linked to the anti-Semetic video was signed by Eric Metaxas, George Barna, Steve Largent, and Everett Piper, among others. 

President Trump's religious right supporters have just launched a new antisemitic conspiracy-theory video attacking Christian social-justice organizations.

The so-called "American Association of Evangelicals," which first emerged on the eve of the 2016 presidential election, alleges that Christian social-justice organizations are a part of "Soros's formula for killing America."

The open letter linked to the anti-Semetic video was signed by Eric Metaxas, George Barna, Steve Largent, and Everett Piper, among others.

If you don't have a weak stomach, you can view the video and letter here.

Fear Is Not A Faithful Response To Refugees - Sandy Ovalle

Most often, God comes into the world in the form of those we least expect: the blind, the leper, the foreign woman, and now, these immigrant families.

Families from the Northern Triangle of Central America often cite poverty as a leading cause to migrate north. Usually unseen are the larger causes that contribute to poverty in Central America — the acts of violence that target vulnerable families and the U.S. involvement in the destabilization of these countries.

Multiple false narratives have vilified mothers, children, and families who are seeking a safer and more stable future. Many have appropriated this moment for political gain, painting these people's plight as a “national emergency” that is to be met by armed troops.

Others point to national security, emphasizing the presence of Africans and Middle Easterners among the people in the "caravan," seemingly to stoke fear. And other responses portray immigrants as disease-carrying agents, even “lepers” that will infect people in the U.S. and create a public health crisis.

Fear can prevent us from hearing and receiving the many gifts that immigrant families bring with them. Fear will only drive us further from love and further away from each other.

Most often, God comes into the world in the form of those we least expect: the blind, the leper, the foreign woman, and now, these immigrant families.

The full article is available here