Speaking of God

Speaking of God

14th May 2023

Psalm 103:8-13 & John 14:1-14

In today’s Psalm the human understanding of a father is used as a metaphor for God:

As a father has compassion for his children,
   so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.

Jesus takes this further than a metaphor, by addressing God with the name ‘Father’.

We see this consistently in the gospels…

    and in today’s passage from John – Jesus calls God ‘Father’ 13 times!

What does it mean to call God ‘Father’?

Now, on Mother’s Day this might sound a bit self-serving!

And we need to be aware of the problems of using gender-specific titles for God.

But, if Jesus calls God ‘Father, and teaches us to pray “Our Father in heaven…”

…what does it mean to know God as ‘Father’?

Last week we talked about calling God King

And Jesus reveals new meaning of what a true King is – 

a King who comes not to be served, but to serve.

Similarly, Jesus reveals new meaning of what a true Father is.

This is the central message of the Gospel.

The Good News of Jesus Christ is that we can know God – as God’s children. 

“when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.”  (Galatians 4:4-5)

Calling God ‘Father’ is about relationship.

Jesus calls God ‘Father’, and enables us to do the same.

Jesus shocked the religious establishment with his use of the Aramaic  “Abba”. 

This was the child’s word for a loving father; our nearest equivalent is “dad” or “daddy”. 

Abba carried the sense of tenderness, intimacy, joy and freedom in the presence of a most loving parent.

‘Father’ is a gendered name, reflecting the culture and time of history in which Jesus lived.

What is significant about this gender associated name ‘Father’ is the expression of the relationship like that of a perfect loving parent.

‘Father’ expresses the intimacy Jesus has with God as well as revealing this is an intimacy we too can experience.

“When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:15-16) 

The Holy Spirit works in our lives to help us to know God and to pray with intimacy. 

Do you pray this way? 

As a child of God, with an assurance that God is our perfect loving parent?

When I’m walking with my youngest son, sometimes he’ll slip his hand into mine. No words are spoken, he does it without a word, and in rhythm as we walk.  

It is one of the greatest joys I know!

Question: is he MORE of a son in that moment than when we were walking without holding hands? 

Not biologically or legally – but experientially…? 

In that moment he experiences the love of his father.

This intimacy Jesus has with God the Father is what he makes possible for us to know also,

Again, from today’s gospel reading (John 14:7)

“If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

THIS is what knowing God as ‘Father’ is about.

A love that is intended for us; intimate, perfect love.

But we do need to recognise the difficulty of ‘Father’ as a gendered title.

We need to recognise that for some the title ‘Father’ actually makes it more difficult to trust God.

As a metaphor, ‘Father’ works well if we associate that with human experiences of nurture and trust.

But, sadly, we know this is not true for everyone.

The name ‘Father’ is associated with deep hurt.

So, what is the right thing to do?

Should we stop using the name ‘Father’ for God?

We inherit the name ‘Father’ in the accurate in translations of the New Testament, and in creeds. 

To stop using the name ‘Father’ completely would diminish our unique heritage.

How about, as well as using the name ‘Father’, we can use additional names that reflect both the nurturing strength, and the humble glory of God – which Jesus did in his day with the name “Abba.”

We don’t want to use words that exclude people. 

We want people to experience that intimacy Jesus shows us and the Spirit enables for us. 

If the name Father works for you, this is a blessing. 

But please realise, using it publicly may be placing a barrier between some listener and God.

I believe we should encourage as many as possible to love, honour and enjoy the intimacy of God – the One Jesus revealed as the loving parent. 

I want people to know above all else that they exist in the strong, nurturing love of God – to know their identity before all others as: one who is loved.

Heaven forbid that we reduce the scope of the Good News by limiting the language we use.

Instead we can use language to talk about the mystery who is God, the divine, so much greater than all our human categories.

The language we use needs to reflect the promises we make at Baptism – to be a community of belonging.

Our Vision at St John’s expresses this powerfully…

We explore and share the gospel with our dynamic neighbourhood. We create safe spaces to be, to belong, and to navigate the tough stuff. Getting to know God is a team sport – that’s why we do this together, not alone.

Jesus says: 

“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places.”

Do you see the salvation Jesus brings is one of welcome and belonging and intimacy?

Let us pay attention to whom God wants us to extend welcome and belonging.

Conclude with a prayer from Bruce D Prewer’s Jesus our Future: Prayers for the Twenty-first Century…

You are the Surprise from whom all discoveries grow, 

the Delight of whom each victory sings, 

the Joy to whom all lasting pleasures flow, 

the Search out of whom all science springs, 

the Truth who surfaces when all seems lost, 

the Love who will not count the cost.

Creating God, high above our understanding,

we worship your mystery!

Redeeming God, deep beyond our deserving, we worship your mystery!

Inspiring God, near beyond our knowing, we worship your mystery!

Amen!

(Church Office)