Even before the formation of the early church, Jesus taught his disciples to pray to “our Father in heaven (Luke 11:1-4).” He also said that “I and the Father are one (John 10:30).”
But don’t let God stop the Episcopal Church from bowing before the altar of DEI and making sure prayers align with an inclusive, gender-neutral God.
You heard that right. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the apostate modern church declares God can’t be male because he doesn’t have a gender.
The Episcopal Church debate centers on the possibility of overhauling their Book of Common Prayer, which is used in its congregations worldwide.
This is another example of compromise and rebellion. Due to the apparent increase in global wokeness and awareness about people being offended by language, the usage of pronouns are upsetting those who deny who God created them to be.
In progressive terms, they do not identify with the gender they were “assigned” at birth. Church spokesperson, Bishop Michael Ipgrave states:
“Christians have recognised since ancient times that God is neither male nor female,” Yet the variety of ways of addressing and describing God found in scripture has not always been reflected in our worship.”
If God is neither male nor female, then Jesus is a liar according to the actual words used in Scripture. If Jesus isn’t Lord, then He can’t be our Savior – so we’re all lost forever.
According to an article at Reuters titled, “Church of England explores gender neutral God,” Ipgrave also said there had been greater interest in exploring new contemporary language for over twenty years.
This supposed new revelation is the latest attempt by the Church to “keep up with rapidly evolving notions around gender and sexuality in recent decades.”
Why? Because, you know, DEI.
Romans 12:2 states:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Rev. Wil Gafney is on the committee recommending a change to the prayer book. Like many other Episcopal priests, he wants prayers to reflect that God is bigger than any gender. Gafney, a professor of the Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Texas, said:
“As long as ‘men’ and ‘God’ are in the same category, our work toward equity will not just be incomplete. I honestly think it won’t matter in some ways,”
So, equity trumps truth, tradition, and inspiration of the Scriptures? Got it.
It must be noted that the wayward Episcopal Church has long separated from the Church of England and will consider the resolutions during its Texas convention this week.
But why stop with a gender change for God?
Some advocates want other revisions including climate change (“a Christian’s duty to the Earth’s conservation”), adding same-sex marriage ceremonies to the liturgy even though for years they’ve been performing homosexual weddings, and even adding a ceremony to celebrate a transgender person’s adoption of a new name.
Protestant denominations such as the United Methodist Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church have also debated the use of gendered language for God. This redefining of truth and rebelling against God and His Word is nothing new.
Five years ago, I reported on an Episcopal church in San Francisco that held what was called a Beyoncé Mass featuring the occult-influenced singer’s music in a “church” service.
In that case, God was – you guessed it – a woman. During the actual Beyoncé mass, an alternate, feminist perversion of the Lord’s Prayer was printed in the program for attendees to read out loud. Here’s a sample:
‘Our Mother, who is in heaven and within us, We call upon your names. Your wisdom come. Your will be done. In all the spaces in which you dwell.
It also stated,
For you are the dwelling place within us, the empowerment around us, and the celebration among us, now and forever. Amen.
It’s no surprise San Fran’s Grace Cathedral also hosted Yoga, Candlelight Labyrinth Walks, and forums entitled, “When Art is Racist.” Like many churches that have abandoned sound doctrine and the inerrancy of Scripture, they are proud progressives.
The spirituality behind contemporary feminism often comes in the form of goddess worship to Gaia or Mother Earth, and the fact these worshippers have a desire to overthrow the patriarchal structure in society.
So, this re-gendering or un-gendering of language or the addition of feminine deities is clearly open rebellion against God as “Father” and against the authority of Jesus Christ.
By the way, one idea behind this so-called liberation for women is to regain their natural power and to have authority over men. To accomplish this dominance, they must invoke certain spirits to help destroy the Judeo-Christian religion.
Whatever the motive, the Bible warns against adding or taking away from it because Scripture is infallible.
In this case of gender, believing disciples of Christ have referred to God and Jesus by using male terms for over 2,000 years. From Genesis to Revelation, in the 170 references to God as the “father,” God refers to himself as male. There are also close to 1,000 verses where God uses a masculine Greek noun as a direct reference to Himself.
Writing for CBN News, Steve Warren states:
God is described in the Bible in several male metaphors including, King, Father, Husband, Master, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is repeatedly referred to in the Bible’s New Testament as the “Son of God.” There are other references throughout the New Testament where Jesus used male nouns and pronouns to describe himself as a man.
People-pleasers and apostates are attempting to conform God to their human agendas. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians asking if he were trying to please God or man and stated:
[A]m I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)
So, is God male, female, gender-neutral? If you are sincerely seeking answers, read the Bible and ask God to reveal the truth to you about His character, authority, and who Jesus is.
Just the fact some are asking these questions and having these debates today shows a new low in biblical literacy as well as inadequate teaching from church leaders who are supposed to equip the saints and preach the whole counsel of God. His truth doesn’t change with the times and we must be ready to respond to these issues.
