My question -
Was female created in the image of God?
Your opinion -
We are told mankind is made in the imagine of God. But then making a huge leap into assuming that The Spirit must be female is ridiculous. God is one. God is perfect in and off Himself. Even though the Trinity exist in perfect harmony together, they are all equally God, and therefore all equally perfect and whole within themselves. So assuming it must take a 'ying/yang' thing for God to be complete, that God must be male and female, just like He created us, lesser beings who needed each other as helpers...well, that speaks to God in ways He has never deemed us fit to know. You are assuming...that is all. For all you know, the "image and likeness" of God could refer only to us having a soul and a conscience...etc...something that separated us from the animals. That is an assumption as well...just like yours. I don't like dealing in assumptions when it comes to God...only what He tells us through His word.
What you are saying is your opinion! With no scriptural basis. In my opinion, your are being a hypocrite! As a deacon and part of the staff, you are to be held to a higher standard!
Here's one of the big problems as I see it. You seem unable to believe that a spirit can also have a gender...as shown when I pointed out the biblical perspective of God the Father (your post #33 shows your denial of God being both Father and spirit). And yet you still claim that 'one of the Trinity' must be 'female', since women were made by God. Your logic is not adding up.
And as far as my standing as a deacon...yes, I suppose it does hold me to a higher standard. But it is God who is holding it, and it is God I will answer to, not you. I am doing my best to follow God and His word...that is what I am doing here. Just because I disagree with you, does not mean I'm a hypocrite.
In fact, I would say that I have more scriptural basis for my argument than you do. Your big idea is that God made us in his 'image and likeness'...which you follow with opinion and assumption, not biblical fact. You cannot make an argument from what the bible
does not say. Just because the bible doesn't tell us that the Spirit is female, doesn't mean we get to freely assume that he is. The bible also doesn't tell us not to eat a lawnmower either, but I'm guessing most people won't use that as an excuse to prove that its a good idea.
Let's try it again -
Was Eve, female, woman made in the image of God? Yes or no?
Thanks, JLB
You want me to say yes...and indeed, the answer is yes...Eve was most certainly made in the image and likeness of God. But before you pounce on that, we must consider, in regards to exegetical understanding, what it means to bear the 'image and likeness of God'.
One author says this: "To be made in the image and likeness of God means you are designed to represent God, to make him known, to reflect his glory like a mirror, to look like him. God has made every human being in such a way that simply being human could make his presence know."
Another author says this: "Unlike the animals who were made according to their 'own kind', we are made in the 'image of God.' This makes human life distinct from and superior to all other created things. We are altogether unique and bestowed with particular dignity, value and worth. God gives commands to us because he made us as moral image bearers. We can know right and wrong, and we can respond to God with moral obedience as an act of faith and love."
Yet another author suggests that after God created our first parents in his image and likeness, they were able to relate to God in a unique way. He goes on to say that this interaction is evidence that the image and likeness we bear enables humans to act as revelation receivers, interpreters and worshipers.
We know the word 'image' is often translated as 'idol'. Now, we know 'idolatry' to be a sin, but that is not what the bible speaks of here. Here 'idol' means something that makes the invisible God visible. To image the real Trinitarian God of the Bible is to make him visible to the world. We are to 'mirror' His invisible attributes to the world, somewhat like Moses, who radiated the glory of God after being in God's presence.
I could go on, with more and more sources. But the point is this...we are indeed made in God's image and likeness, but that does not mean that one of the Trinity must be female. The bible in no way gives us leave to assume this, in fact, given deep study on the meaning of 'image and likeness', we may in fact come to the opposite conclusion. Consider what this author has to say:
"While God is not engendered, he does reveal himself as Father and comes to us as the God-man Jesus Christ. Nonetheless he makes both men and women in his image. Practically, this means that thought they are in some ways different, the man and woman are equal in dignity, value and worth by virtue of the fact that they are equally God's image bearers."
This summation fits in with what the rest of the bible teaches about the roles of men and women.
So, is Eve made in God's image and likeness? Yes. Does this mean the Holy Spirit is female? Nope. Does it give us leave to make the wild assumption that maybe the Spirit
could be a female...nope.
