Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Is There a Mother in Heaven? Part 1 of 10—Two Questions

This is the sort of subject matter you’re more likely to hear in New Age circles than you are in Christian circles. Yet, I’m sure there are many sincere Christians who have wondered whether or not we have a Mother in heaven. It’s only natural.

Unfortunately, the Bible is silent in the matter, and I’m guessing our pulpits are as well.

Or are they?


Well, our pulpits are likely silent, but there might be some few things we can garner from the Bible on the subject, at least by inference.

While the Bible doesn’t come right out and say there is a Mother in heaven, neither does it say there isn’t. However, the few items we can point out might at least open the door to the possibility of there being a heavenly Mother.

But before we delve into some of these finer points, I'd like to throw out a couple of questions for you to consider which you've probably not heard discussed in your Sunday services. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Question 1: When was there ever a father without there being a corresponding mother?
Question 2: When was there ever a son without there being both a father and a mother?

Has that got your “little gray cells” working? — to quote Hercule Poirot, the great fictional Belgian detective.

Of course, these questions have reference to God, the Father, and God, the Son, Jesus Christ, and by inference, a possible Mother in heaven. However, these questions are merely something for you to consider while we delve deeper into the subject.

On the surface, what we have is an all-male deity. If there were a Mother in heaven, would she be considered a deity as well? Perhaps, but not in the same light as the Father and Son and Holy Ghost, which seem to be some sort of presiding quorum, as it were. Certainly, she would be in a place of honor.
Yet, even if there were a Mother in heaven, I don’t think mainstream Christianity would ever accept the idea. The actual followers of Jesus might, but I don’t think those in power would.

Why would I think that?

Because, in some ways, Christianity has become a lot like science: If you can't see it, feel it, or touch it, it doesn't exist. So it is with certain religious subjects, such as whether or not there is a Mother in heaven.

This is so because many Christians, if not millions of them, believe that if it's not in the Bible, it doesn't exist. Mind you, the Bible doesn't teach this, but that's what millions have been taught for nearly two thousand years.

Personally, I think preachers do us a great disservice when they put limitations on spiritual matters or spiritual subjects, like this one. Like it or not, there are some subjects they just will not discuss. Or, if these verboten subjects do cross their lips, it’s only to belittle or debunk them.

In these pages, verboten subjects like this one will find the light of day. We may not always agree, but at least the discussion is open and on the table. I hope you will dig in and enjoy.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I believe that we will find out all the answers we seek when we get to heaven.....don't you?

Cris Coleman said...

Thank you for your comment. Yes, I have to agree with your statement . . . provided we even GET to heaven. That's really not in our hands, but God's. Until then, well . . . we can try and piece things together the best we can. Besides, I enjoy doing so. You wouldn't take THAT away from me, would you? :o)

Anonymous said...

That was a cool post you wrote today about Mother in Heaven. All these things are so interesting to think about. :-)
~D

Cris Coleman said...

Thanks ~D. I appreciate that. There are a lot of interesting things to think about from the Bible. I hope to cover some of these things.

Jonathan C said...

Interesting. Reminds me of El Shaddai (אֵל שַׁדַּי), (Many breasted one) but typically translated God Almigty.
It's my belief that God's Spirit meets us as the comforter as He Fathers and Mothers us in this life and our life everlasting as granted by Jesus' sacrifice.
In a sense we, the Bride of Christ have an opportunity to mother in heaven and serve along side a Holy triune God in ruling with Him.

Cris Coleman said...

Jonathan, I appreciate your comment. I am looking forward to what else you might have to say as you continue reading this series. So many of my series overlap; it's impossible not to. While I gain pleasure in searching out and writing about these things, it's comments like yours that gives me even greater pleasure, as the things I write about are hard for a lot of people to stomach, if you will. God bless you on your eternal way.