Read Jeremiah 31:31-34.
Don’t you hate it when this happens? You’re minding your business, reading sacred texts, and BLAMMO, gendered title. Or BLAMMO: references to slavery being cool…not cool!
I love these passages from Jeremiah. They talk about God redeeming the children of Israel, restoring them and all that surrounds them. Cool, cool. But as a woman, especially as a woman married to a woman, the “husband” title is problematic. So, I see there’s a note! Maybe there’s a better word! But wouldn’t you know?! The Bible tricks me again, the other word is “master,” ugh. That one should be problematic for everyone, but maybe you didn’t see that “note,” and you were saved. Either way, we know there are a lot of other titles in the Bible for God, our Father, Creator, Mother, Friend, Savior. And it’s okay to lean into those when the harder words come up. And some words are often less cool for certain people, and that’s okay, too. I don’t think God wants us crying out: Mother, Father, or Master, if those words are hurtful at the same time. And, just in case you need a refresher (we all often do): it’s really not cool to force words on other people.
No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest…
Pray
Praise the Lord Almighty, Mother and Creator, all the titles we need, don’t need, and don’t know. You became and are becoming us. Forever and ever. Amen.
Rev. Lindsey A. Groves
Campus Minister
Words for Waiting 