Oct
5
Written by:
Different Voice
10/5/2009 7:00 AM
Like many children, I grew up with a masculine image of God. For the first twenty years of my life, I only heard God referred to as Father or He. It is true that God is like a loving and forgiving father. The image of God as a father figure allows us to understand a part of God. Yet God is so much more! God is an incomprehensible mystery; no image can adequately describe all the characteristics of God.
The use of a variety of God images allows us to envision a multi-faceted God; one that is not confined to exhibiting only the attributes of a father. God as mother, God as a rock, and God as potter are a few examples of God images found in the Bible.
Sunday School teachers can play a pivotal role in providing an opportunity for students (children, youth or adults) to experience God beyond God the Father. Here are a few suggestions:
- Use “God” in place of gender-specific pronouns.
- If you do use pronouns to refer to God, make sure that you are using both masculine and feminine pronouns.
- Expose students to various Biblical references to God.
- Embrace God as mystery. Name and discuss this part of God.
Watching your God language is a subtle thing. Sunday School teachers can model an awareness of God who can be described in many ways, but never completely understood. Students will be both encouraged and challenged to imagine God in a variety of roles as they continue on their faith journey.
~Sally Hoelscher