The concept of a “mother god” is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. However, there are a few relevant points from Scripture that can help address this topic:
God is Spirit
The Bible teaches that God is spirit (John 4:24). As spirit, God is not male or female, but transcends gender. God contains all the qualities of masculinity and femininity in perfect harmony. Scripture sometimes uses masculine pronouns to refer to God (such as calling God Father), but this is to portray attributes like strength and leadership, not to imply God is male.
God as Creator
The Bible describes God as the Creator, who gives life and forms human beings in the womb (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:13). These can be seen as motherly attributes. However, Scripture does not refer to God as Mother, only as Father.
Feminine Imagery for God
A few passages use feminine imagery to describe God’s compassion. For example, God comforts His people “as a mother comforts her child” (Isaiah 66:13). Jesus also uses the analogy of a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wings (Luke 13:34). However, these are just analogies and do not imply God is female.
Goddess Worship Condemned
The Bible consistently condemns the worship of pagan mother goddesses like Asherah and Ashtoreth. God forbids setting up idols or graven images to worship (Exodus 20:4-5). The feminine deities of other religions are considered false gods.
The Holy Spirit as Comforter
Jesus describes the Holy Spirit using the Greek word Parakletos – meaning helper, comforter, advocate (John 14:16). The nurturing, life-giving role of the Spirit could be viewed as a maternal attribute of God’s own Spirit indwelling believers.
Jesus Reveals God the Father
Jesus reveals God as His Heavenly Father. He tells us to pray to “Our Father in Heaven” (Matthew 6:9). Jesus always refers to the First Person of the Trinity as Father. The New Testament continues this emphasis on God as Father.
The Divine Feminine in Scripture
The Bible uses feminine imagery when personifying concepts like wisdom, justice, and mercy. For example, Proverbs depicts wisdom as a woman calling out to people (Proverbs 1:20-21). Some scholars see Sophia (Greek for wisdom) as reflecting the feminine aspect of God’s nature.
The Bride and Bridegroom Analogy
The New Testament describes the Church as the bride of Christ and Jesus as the bridegroom (Ephesians 5:25-27). This shows how God relates to His people in protective, self-sacrificial love. Some connect this imagery with the femininity of God.
Mary Points to God’s Motherly Love
For Catholics and some Protestants, Mary’s unconditional love and maternal mediation reflect the motherly aspects of God’s nature. Mary nurtured and protected Jesus, so she is a model of the Church nurturing Christians.
No Biblical Basis for Seeing God as Mother
While the Bible contains feminine metaphors for God’s love and the Spirit’s nurturing work, it never explicitly refers to God as Mother. God the Father and Jesus the Son reveal God’s parental heart, but Scripture does not portray God as Mother.
Implications of Viewing God as Mother
Seeing God as Mother can help people appreciate the gentle, compassionate side of God’s nature. However, focusing too much on feminine traits of God could lead to seeing God as less strong and authoritative. It also contradicts the overwhelming use of masculine language for God in Scripture.
A Balanced Perspective on Gender
The Bible shows that God transcends gender, containing all the best virtues of masculinity and femininity. Human beings, both male and female, are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Men and women complement each other and reflect God’s nature in different ways. God intended masculine and feminine traits to work together harmoniously, not compete.
Understanding God as Three Persons
The doctrine of the Trinity describes God as three co-equal Persons – the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Each Person of the Godhead relates to humanity in unique ways that could be described as masculine or feminine. But it would be inaccurate to call the Trinity “Mother, Son and Spirit.”
Avoiding False Goddess Worship
While feminine metaphors help describe God’s nurturing qualities, Christians must be careful not to blur the lines between the true God and false goddess worship. The Bible consistently shows God as masculine and condemns the worship of female deities.
Naming God Father, not Mother
Jesus instructs us to pray to God as “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9-13). Nowhere does Scripture encourage us to call God Mother. While God’s nature contains feminine qualities, Jesus definitively reveals Him as Father. We should follow Jesus’ example in how to address God.
Finding Balance in Understanding God
The Bible presents a balanced perspective – God is neither exclusively male nor female, but transcends gender. Scripture contains both masculine and feminine metaphors for God’s nature and actions. However, it always names and addresses God using male pronouns and as Father. Christians should avoid extremes and maintain this biblical balance.
Trusting God’s Self-Revelation
Ultimately, we must trust how God chooses to reveal Himself in Scripture. If God wanted us to address Him as Mother, He would have made this clear. The fact that God consistently reveals Himself as Father means we should accept and honor this, while appreciating the feminine qualities that reflect His full nature.
Conclusion
The Bible does not present God as a “mother god” figure. While Scripture contains feminine analogies that describe God’s nurturing, life-giving nature, God is consistently addressed and named with masculine terminology like Father. Christians should appreciate the fullness of God’s nature, while trusting His self-revelation as God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.