CHAPLAIN’S PAGE – HE OR SHE?
England
The public is swamped these days with gender issues. Children from a very early age are told that they have a choice to be male or female, or something in between, or even no gender. Schools have poured coals on the fire by making the pupils all dress alike . Gender free is the target. A public school in the south of England allows boys to wear skirts if they have their parent’s permission. Has this world gone crazy?
The subject of gender goes back even before the creation of the universe, and affects God Himself. We have women priests who are clammering to turn Him into a she. What does scripture teach on the subject? Genesis Chapter 1 and verse 27 “So God created man in His own image. In the image of God he created him; male and female created He them”. God’s relationship with man is male. Malachi Chapter 2 and verse 10 “Have we not all one Father?” This is confirmed in Romans Chapter 8 verse 15 “We have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we say, Abba, Father”. In that deeply moving account of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, just before his betrayal, He cried out ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee: take away this cup from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt’ (Mark Chapter 14 verse 36).
Thus far we have established two key points: 1.) God the Father is male. 2.) God’s relationship with Christ is male. We can take this principle further when we think of the nation of Israel. This is a covenant nation which is special to God, and is female. Both Testaments make this abundantly clear. Jeremiah in Chapter 3 and verse 8: ”And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister, Judah, feared not, but went and played the harlot also”. The New Testament also confirms Israel’s gender. Revelation Chapter 19 and verse 7, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him, for the marriage of the lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready”.
 The church teaches that it is the bride, but is this so? Paul, in his epistle to the Ephesians in chapter 4, outlines the various ministries of the church and continues “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” So the church is Christ’s body. The following chapters and verse 23 informs us that Christ is the head of the church; but the church insists that it is the bride! Symbolism in the scriptures is constant.
An article in the Daily Telegraph some time ago stated that some church officials are “reinterpreting” the words of scripture in order to bring them into line with current thinking. These people are treading on very dangerous ground, for Malachi clearly stated “For I am the Lord, I change not” (Chapter 3 verse 6). His purposes and instructions to man remain constant through the centuries . No wonder the Holy Spirit moved Peter to warn the church of the forthcoming judgement: “For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God” (1 Peter chapter 4 verse 17).
Satan’s stock in trade is lies and deception. He has warehouses full of them! He will always oblige those who have no Biblical knowledge. He has filled the world with trivial pursuits, and the unwary gladly taste their delights. To have no knowledge of God’s wonderful word is bad enough, but the majority of Christians are satisfied with their ignorance. They have no thought that knowledge is preparation for eternity.
The Kingdom of God will shortly be the Kingdom on earth. The Lord’s Prayer makes this abundantly clear: “Thy Kingdom come”. Prepare now, don’t leave it until it is too late!
Footnote – Some have pointed out that when the Holy city, New Jerusalem, comes down out of Heaven on to the earth , that it is the bride. A comparison of various translations says either ‘As a bride’ or ‘like a bride’ but none of them say ‘the bride’. (Revelation chapter 21 verse 2)
