Why Does Jesus Call God "Father" If God Has No Gender?

The podcast explores why Jesus calls God 'Father' despite God being without gender. It explains that 'Father' signifies God as the origin of all things and the source of goodness and loving care, while cautioning against projecting flawed earthly father images onto God. It emphasizes that God's fatherhood transcends human understanding, and his love and mercy are always present, even in times of sin.

God as Origin

• 00:00:45 The term 'Father' indicates God as the first origin of everything, analogous to human fatherhood in the sense of procreation and providing life's origin. This concept distinguishes God's transcendence, as creation happens outside of him, unlike pantheistic views where creation is within and part of God. God is the ultimate source of life and creation, not part of it.

God's Goodness & Care

• 00:03:15 'Father' also signifies God's goodness and loving care for all his children, which is essential to his nature. The podcast cautions against misinterpreting God's fatherhood through the lens of wounded or dysfunctional earthly father experiences, urging a purification of our hearts from such projections. This understanding allows us to see God as he truly is.

Transcendence of God's Fatherhood

• 00:04:49 God's fatherhood transcends human categories and earthly experiences of fatherhood. Projecting human concepts onto God creates idols and hinders true understanding. We should measure earthly fatherhood by God's revealed example through Jesus, who embodies pure self-giving and sacrificial love.

Holy Spirit's Role

• 00:10:19 While the Holy Spirit facilitated Jesus' conception through Mary, God the Father is always the father of Jesus, both eternally and in Mary's womb. The Holy Spirit serves as the 'seed' of the Father, similar to how a male's seed initiates human conception. This emphasizes that God's fatherhood is a core aspect of his being.

Redeeming Fatherhood

• 00:11:22 The podcast encourages viewing God's fatherhood as a standard for earthly fathers, thus allowing for a clearer understanding of their limitations and flaws. By recognizing and accepting God's mercy, we can offer it to our earthly fathers, fostering understanding and healing in our relationships. It is through this lens that we can begin to see and understand who God truly is.