Made in God's Image Not in His Image

In the last couple of months, the idea of image has been a common one. We've all heard it before "we are made in the image of God" but what does that really mean? Do we believe it or is it just something nice to say? 

If we are truly made in God's image then to understand who we are and who God is calling us to be we need to first ask, and begin to have an understanding, of who God is. It is not possible for us to ever understand the fullness of God and I could go on for a long time about all the things that God is, but I'm not going to do that right now. 

Instead, I want to focus on our perception of God and how it impacts the way we view ourselves--specifically girls. 

First off, I want to say that God has no gender and there is both masculine AND feminine language and imagery used for God in the Bible. Primarily though, we see and use the masculine language.

Go back as far as you want and you'll find masculine language for God (He, King, Father, etc.) 

Before I lose you for thinking that I am saying this is wrong and if you are thinking all the masculine language can't be wrong because it is in the Bible, hear me out. Though I personally prefer to stay a way from gendered language, I don't have a problem with its use but it does need to be leveled out with equal masculine and feminine language. For the argument that the Bible uses mostly masculine language so it is fine, consider this; The Bible, though inspired by God and I believe is God's word, is not without human interpretation and transcription. It was written in a time where women did not have a voice and male dominance was expected as the norm. On top of that, the Greek language has masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns and the English language does not always have a good way of expressing those distinctions. When you are reading the Bible, please keep in mind the time, language, and cultural differences that impact our interpretation and understanding of it. 

All of that being said, our over use of masculine language for God impacts the way women and girls view themselves. We may not realize the impact it has but I am without a doubt that there is one. 

As a woman, it can be hard to believe that I am made in God's image as Genesis 1:27 reads when the majority of my life I have only heard God referred to in masculine terms. 

I believe this is detrimental to girls growing up because if we can't see ourselves as made in the image of God due to the lack of language that reflects the part of God that is more relatable to women (She, Mother, Nurturer etc.), then without thinking about it, we automatically see ourselves as inferior to men. 

The same goes for the way men view woman. 

Here is an example of the impacts of male dominant language.

I was at a girls vs. boys activity where there isn't ever actually any winner but the goal is to get the other team as dirty as possible. Girls on one side, boys on the other, they line up, do a "war cry" and then the game begins. This time when I was there, the boys began chanting; and at first I didn't understand what they were saying but then I realized they were chanting "Jesus was a man." Theologically and biologically, they are correct. Jesus was a man. The problem is that they were using the fact that God came in human form as a man as a reason to why they were better and going to "beat" the girls. Since they viewed God as male they viewed themselves as closer to God and better than woman. 

Yes, God did come in the form of a man but Leora Tanenbaum's book, Taking Back God, explains it well.

          "Jesus was male because, had he been female, he would not have been able to serve as an                  

          authority figure. He needed the social privileges associated with maleness in order to           

          preach; it's not that being male is superior to being female." (p.284) 

In a world spewing lies and expectations of beauty all around, it is already hard enough for girls to see themselves as valuable, smart, and beautiful. They don't need their religion to make them feel more inferior. 

I want to suggest that we begin looking at God in more ways than just masculine terms such as Father, Ruler, and King. Let's expand our common language of God to include Creator, Mother, Comforter, Healer, and Sustainer, etc. 

It may feel uncomfortable at first but it not only is beneficial  as a mindset change for how we view woman but it will also expand our view of who God is. 

So God created humankind in God's own image. In the image of God, God created them. Male and female God created them. 

       -Genesis 1:27 

And here is a pretty picture of a sunset because God's creation is really beautiful.