Mother God or Mother Zion?

Feminist theology challenges the traditional exclusive use of a masculine pronoun for God.  It’s reported that half of the seven million Christians in UK don’t attend churches, so at some level see no reason for a gathered people.  Is there any validity in their arguments?  The biblical testimony is to Jerusalem (or Zion) figuratively being a mother country, giving us citizenship.  Let’s explore the message.

The bible includes natural images of God such as rock, bear (Hosea 13:8) and eagle (Deuteronomy 32:11).  Among the human images we find "eyes", "ears", “face” (1 Peter 3:12), and "fingers" (Luke 11:20).  Such anthropomorphic (= based on the form of man or woman) language is given to help us understand something more about God, though none of these is totally God.
  
There are points at which the bible does use feminine word-pictures to express God’s activity.  They include birth, nurture and comfort, protection, etc.  Do they define something feminine, or are they also just to help us to understand better?  Jesus called God Father.  Every place God is mentioned in the bible it is with the masculine pronoun.  Not once is God addressed as mother.
   
If the root metaphor for God is masculine father, the language is more generous in bridal and motherhood images for His gathered people.  The focus is principally in Jerusalem/Zion, the city of birth and flourishing.  The Psalms and Isaiah are full of such references (though sometimes a little idealised).
   
This image carries over into the New Testament as the church, and her eternal destiny as part of the heavenly New Jerusalem.  The strength of covenant brotherhood speaks of balanced “parenting” within the Holy Spirit’s activity, the immanent presence of God.

God’s covenant desire is a people with the right heart within/among whom He can abide.  They are gathered as a united community: Zion, the church.  Individualism is not part of this, because it isn’t part of the new heart.  For us this is all made possible through regeneration and uniting by the Holy Spirit.

So what’s this about?  The God Who conceived birth and motherhood has these dimensions planned for us.
PSALM 50:2  From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
PSALM 131:2  But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Feminine activities of God.  The prophets attribute birth, nurture, sustaining and compassion to God.
DEUTERONOMY 32:18  You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.  19 The LORD saw this and rejected them because he was angered by his sons and daughters.
ISAIAH 42:14  "For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back.  But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.
ISAIAH 46:3  "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth.  4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
ISAIAH 49 15  “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

The city of our birth.  Equally, Zion, established by God, is the city of our birth, identity and comfort.
PSALM 87:5  Indeed, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her."  6 The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: "This one was born in Zion."
ISAIAH 66:7  "Before she goes into labour, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son.  8 Who has ever heard of such a thing?  Who has ever seen such things?  Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment?  Yet no sooner is Zion in labour than she gives birth to her children.  9 Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?" says the LORD.  "Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?" says your God.  10  "Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her.  11 For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance."  12 For this is what the LORD says: "I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees.  13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

The city of God’s heart.  God purposes to dwell among the holy people He has redeemed, and causes to flourish.  He will faithfully rescue and restore them into this favoured habitation.  Here we see the church.
ISAIAH 52:8  When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.  9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
ZECHARIAH 8:3  This is what the LORD says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem.  Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain."  4 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age.  5 The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there."  6 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "It may seem marvellous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvellous to me?" declares the LORD Almighty.  7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.  8 I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God."

The New Testament also uses feminine imagery; it helps us to understand our relationship to the Lord.
MATTHEW 23:37  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.    39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' "
1 PETER 2:2  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Zion, below and above.  We are drawn away from the emphasis on works, to the covenant promise of God.  Our destiny is a heavenly city; while on earth we have the Spirit’s grace now to display our citizenship.
GALATIANS 4:24  These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants.    26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.  27 For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labour pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." [Isaiah 54:1]
HEBREWS 12:22  But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.  You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.  You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
1 PETER 2:5  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Application  Multitudes of every nation, Now come and seek and find salvation; This Zion mother church shall be writes Charles Wesley; and Isaac Watts, And Zion is His dwelling still, His church is with His presence blessed.
·       Sin’s separation left us exiled (Genesis 3:24).  Have you found your place and heritage in God’s “new Eden”?
·       May we say that when churches are weak, a need for identity, comfort and nurture is missing from living truth?
·       It’s clear that God invests Himself in His Zion/church.  Do you fully play your part in making her strong, too?

Scripture quotes from the New International Version.
You can replay or download our Sunday meetings on http://recordings.crownoflife.org.uk/

When the beauty of the church
Captures my eyes,
I’m overwhelmed with tears of love
That flow from somewhere deep inside.
And all at once
Her preciousness shines through;
The joy of seeing lives now changed
Is bringing change to my life too.

Oh heavenly mother,
I love all you do;
You go to the dark place,
And there you find the roughest stones
And fashion them into your jewels.

Ending:
Oh heavenly mother.

NCCC © 1997 Jesus Fellowship Songs/CopyCare Ltd

Rejection

Rejection isn’t a built-in personal characteristic, like height or eye colour.  It’s not even inwardly preset like introversion or IQ.  Therefore it can be fixed!

1. Rejection is an outcome of the dynamic that anthropologists call group inclusion.  At some level, the feeling is traceable to the fact that this didn’t happen for you.  We all experience some of it.
2. There are patterns of rejection.  One is that you weren’t picked for a team or selected for some recognition, and the experience soured.  King David could have felt this from his father’s action in 1 Samuel 16.  A second is when you’re singled out to be excluded – picked on to not be included.  Jesus hinted at this when He spoke of “the stone the builders rejected” (from Psalm 118:22).  People with disabilities may feel this.  A third is when we find we’re suspicious of criteria that are part of normal everyday diversity because we interpret them subjectively.  Much modern political correctness goes into trying to deal with this.
3. Consequences follow, in the face of persistent rejection feeling.  We come to believe there is some innate rejection characteristic about us.  We call this generalising, labelling or personalising.  As we’ve seen, this is a lie.  Second, we position ourselves as lifelong “outsiders”, and make normal group dynamics near-impossible.  Third we develop a false set of social rules around the vocabulary of distance, isolation and abandonment, and fears of them.  These require truth, love and hope to straighten out.
4. God has a remedy, and we must begin to discern it.  Yes, with the devil, Adam was cursed.  But God set in motion a drama of redemption.  He brought His (representative) people into covenant.  He made provisions for their transgressions to be atoned for, so He had no undealt-with cause to reject them.
5. God’s Son came as Jesus the Man from Heaven, with the good news that there was again a place of inclusion – the eternal Kingdom.  Jesus gives us His Spirit, so the same Sonship awareness moves in us.  It confirms our adoption into God’s family.  Even Fatherly discipline and correction is a token of inclusion.
6. Armed with this new position, understanding and dynamic, the church can extend acceptance where sin has created separation.  But, the world will remain estranged and maybe oppose.

 So, what’s this about?  There’s a dynamic of division running through life.  The fundamental issue is that we dissociated ourselves from God by our sin.  The good news is we’re invited into the best family around: His.

MATTHEW 21:42  Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: " `The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes'?  43 "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

 

Discerning God’s remedy.  It was for good reason that the Hebrews emphasised separation as the pain of sin and death.  With the devil, we’re constitutionally outsiders.  Immediately God began to work on rehabilitating Adam.  A second snake episode showed God would atone for transgressions under His covenant.

GENESIS 3:23  So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.  24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

NUMBER 21:6  Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.  7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you.  Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us."  So Moses prayed for the people.  8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."  9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole.  Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

 

Jesus the Man from Heaven, finally overcame the problem.  He bore the pain and grief of rejection by man (for being too holy) and God (for being too sinful).  But God vindicated His action done in our place.

LUKE 9:20  "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"  Peter answered, "The Christ of God."  21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.  22 And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

MARK 15:12  "What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?"  Pilate asked them.  13 "Crucify him!" they shouted.  14 "Why?  What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.  But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"  15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them.  He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

 

Jesus the Son of God instates those born again (from above) as sons, adopted into God’s eternal family.

ROMANS 8:13  For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."  16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.  17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

EPHESIANS 1:3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will -- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

 

The church – a new humanity of inclusion.  The old distinctions have been swallowed up in Christ.

EPHESIANS 4:15  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

COLOSSIANS 3:11  Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.  12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…

 

It takes time to put into practise: we must reflex to what Christ accomplished, not what we feel.  We note that an unbelieving world misunderstands and may mishandle us.  Nor is our Father’s correction, rejection.

1 PETER 2:4  As you come to him, the living Stone -- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him -- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

LUKE 6:22  Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.  23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.  For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

1 TIMOTHY 1:18  Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience.  Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.

 

Scripture quotes from the New International Version.

You can replay or download our Sunday meetings on http://recordings.crownoflife.org.uk/

 

Application  It’s no good blaming other people, situations or God.  The world needs Jesus’s radical cure.

·       What’s the best thing to do when you feel like running even tho God’s drawing you in not pushing you away?

·       “Hurting people hurt people”, says John Maxwell.  That’s why the fact that Jesus didn’t retaliate is our hope.

·       How does the Holy Spirit testify in you to God’s adoption and your place in Christ’s body?  Do you listen?

1. I’ve been so much rejected,

I’ve often felt alone,

A heart that feels like breaking;

No friends, no hope, no home.

I’m asking You to help me, Lord. (×2)

2. Abused by many people

And knowing so much shame.

I’ve longed to find some loving

From those who understand.

I’m asking You to help me, Lord. (×2)

3. Through drugs and drink I’ve stifled

The memories in my head,

And sometimes I’ve been foolish

In wishing I was dead.

I’m asking You to help me, Lord. (×2)

4. So, please will you accept me:

Just me, just like I am.

And help me find some healing

From all my fears and pain.

I’m asking You to help me, Lord. (×2)

NCCC © 1996 Jesus Fellowship Songs/CopyCare Ltd.

Authority and Church Government

God’s visible and invisible creation is upheld by His authority and law.  The same goes for His new creation, the church, with Jesus Christ as her head.  So He will direct good and wise rulership.

1. As with the cosmic creation God delegates stewardship to His humanity, so with the church, Christ appoints ministries to govern and promote her life.
2. Useful principles and patterns emerge from the administration of God’s people in the Old Covenant.  Early church congregations followed a structure that originated in Jewish synagogues.
3. Church government works through three broad groups: apostolic ministries, teams of elders, and the whole body of disciples.  There’s a balance to be struck with family authority and civic responsibility, too.
4. Apostolic ministries lead in newer church planting situations.  Elders are appointed/commissioned to establish good order and provide teaching, etc.  The whole church recognises the Holy Spirit’s activity, and by willing and intelligent obedience promotes God’s purposes.
5. God judges independence, pride and disobedience, but blesses mutual submission, humility and obedience.  Church government necessarily includes resolving conflicts, contentions, and disorderliness.
6. Society generally says it’s respectful about Jesus but disillusioned with the church.  We need to communicate our structures, procedures and roles in a positive light.  Hierarchy and male leadership have become negative concepts.  Although the most common words for the local church are borrowed from family life, some decision-making is best handled by a smaller group known to be equipped for the need.

 What’s this about?  The Lord is sovereign in creation and new creation.  In both He delegates responsibility to His human sons.  Throughout church history there’ve been both fruitful and unhelpful patterns of government.  Jesus Fellowship follows the radical tradition of apostolic, eldership and congregational organisation.

HEBREWS 13:7  Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.  Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.  17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.  They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.  Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

 

Old Covenant pattern.  The symbol of authority for God’s people is the shepherd’s rod or staff.  God’s purpose in setting authority over us is protection and guidance even if it involves corrective discipline.  Moses had too much on, so delegated levels of responsibility.  Peter refers to each elder’s allotment (1 Peter 5:1-3).

EXODUS 18:13  The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.  14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people?  Why do you alone sit as judge,    20 Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform.  21 But select capable men from all the people -- men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain -- and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.  22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times,

 

Apostolic.  Foundational ministries plant new churches, and run them until men of sufficient quality and maturity arise to be called into on-going rulership responsibility.  The apostles then maintain a watching brief.

ACTS 14:23  Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

ACTS 15:36  Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing."

 

Apostles and elders.  If a major issue affects the church, all the senior leaders get together to sort it out.

ACTS 15:5  Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."  6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question.    22  Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.  They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers.    30 The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter.  31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message.

Pastor Elders.  We never find elders operating on their own, to prevent pride, polarisation and overload.  They’re good examples, work hard, are targets of attack, sometimes fail, and need recognising/appointing carefully.  Elders are alternatively known as pastor/shepherds, overseers or bishops.  They qualify by their good hearts (see John ch 10). 

1 TIMOTHY 4:14  Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.    17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.    19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.  20 Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.    22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others.  Keep yourself pure.

 

The congregation.  The church, listening to the Holy Spirit, has a voice in important management issues.

ACTS 6:3  Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.  We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."  5 This proposal pleased the whole group.  They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.  6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.  7 So the word of God spread.

 

Jesus Fellowship.  Whilst all recognise the presence of the Lord in His church, He, and we, also uphold:

Natural and extended family heads: eldership qualification starts with life at home (Ephesians 5:22-6:4, etc).

Deacons of all kinds: responsible for practical matters - money, domestic affairs, premises, events, etc.

Assistant Pastors: brothers recognised with a pastoral gift and responsible for their own group of "sheep".

Household leadership team, including two pastor/elders: responsible for cell groups and all the attached members.

Senior Leaders: overseeing more than one church household (or a congregation) in a Region.

Apostolic Leaders: responsible for more than one Region; and perhaps also a Multiply main leader.

Civic authority: self-regulating institutions, including some churches, aren’t above the law (1 Peter 2:13,14).

ROMANS 5:17    how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

1 PETER 2:13  Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men:

Scripture quotes from the New International Version.

You can replay or download our Sunday meetings on http://recordings.crownoflife.org.uk/

Application.  There are no ranks in the modern Jesus army.  But Paul, with his team, wasn’t ashamed of the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, (2 Corinthians10:8).

·       Share about past bad experiences you’ve had of authority that hinder your present place in the church.

·       Are there leaders you need to honour more, or ones who need to be more honourable? What will you do?

·       Can you explain to a sceptic how Jesus Fellowship church government works, is biblical and appropriate?

Break into joy!

You mountains and you cedar trees!

Burst into praise!

Let all creation worship Him!

He is the Lord!

He is our God, the Lord Almighty,

And He has a Name above all other names!

He is the Lord, Jesus!

2. We'll shout for joy!

He has destroyed the powers of hell!

We'll sing His praise!

Oh everything He has done well!

He's King of kings!

He has all majesty, authority,

His Kingdom rule shall be without an end!

He is the Lord, Jesus!

3. We'll sing and shout!

For He has won the victory!

We'll dance about!

Oh what a mighty Lord is He!

We'll magnify the Lamb of God, the great "I am"

For He has conquered by His blood eternally!

He is the Lord, Jesus!.

4. We'll celebrate!

For He has washed us by His Blood!

Friends through the Cross!

Now we are reconciled to God!

We're joined with Him

And we now reign with Him triumphant,

Demonstrate the rule of heaven here on earth!

He is the Lord, Jesus!

5. He builds His Church!

The gates of hell shall not prevail!

He builds His Church!

Now all the powers of darkness quail!

He is the Lord!

Now unto Him be all authority, dominion, power

            and everlasting praise!

He is the Lord, Jesus!

NCCC © Jesus Fellowship Songs/CopyCare Ltd