DanWilt.com :: Conversations On Emerging Worship

Whilst I think he has a point, we have too much of that type of song at the moment (easier to write and sing than theology, eh?) I also think he is partly wrong, and has missed the reason for these songs. A human would equate this launguage and type of intimacy with sexuality, but I would think that God operates differenty and doesn’t interpret it as eros if we don’t mean it as such. He knows our hearts and our limitations of expression. Often we look at God far too logically, I think that’s more dangrous than intimacy. I think as well that he makes the mistake of equating God in human terms in regard to how he views him.

My response to John:

John, I think can appreciate where you’re coming from in your comments. There can be a certain awkwardness that exists in relating to God with romantic language, and the lines become murky when associating the exclusive nature of spousal relationship with a community of believers singing to God. “Wrong” is a very strong word here, though. I think there’s a biblical subtext that perhaps you’re overlooking, and I wonder if you’re oversimplifying this just a little.

I think there is a strong argument to be made that any and all human relationships are a kind of allegory for our complex relationship with God. As you’ve mentioned, God is clearly referred to in scripture as Father, Friend, Master, Brother, and even in some more obscure texts, the traits of Mother are assigned. As you’ve noted, there is definitely mention of Him as spouse to the people of Israel. I believe that the deep elements of a marital relationship are essential to our own relationship with Him. Issues of fidelity, devotion, partnering (to some extent), and a deep celebration of intimacy (the desire to know and be known), transcend the physical sex of marriage. These are issues primarily understood through the outworking of marriage. I think it is a mistake to write that off because of the sexual component that exists (thankfully) in marriage.

As a final comment here, and this may strike up the ire of some but here goes anyway, God is not, in fact, a man. Or a woman. He is Spirit. Gender issues deeply oversimplify His nature. It is solely for the purposes of relating to God that we assign any gender at all. Unfortunately, there is no better word that denotes “person” that is not gender specific. It would be a pity to let that simple failing of language get in the way of a deeper knowledge of God.