Should Abuse survivors Call God “Father”?
should abuse survivors call god “father”?
“God isn’t so insecure that he needs to have a certain title to feel respected.”
can we call God anything but father?
Jesus taught his followers to pray to God as "father.” But what if you are an abuse survivor?
What if your father abused you and the word “father” sends negative chills up and down your spine?
Do you have to call God “Father”?
This might seem like a trivial topic but for survivors of abuse, it matters. Many survivors tell me that seeing God as father troubles them. It shuts them down from God and prayer. What can they do?
As with any Bible teaching it’s important to go deeper than the word alone. The Bible teaches that “the letter kills but the spirit gives life,” meaning that any teaching can end up hurting people if it’s not connected to the intention of God.
“Any teaching can end up hurting people if it’s not connected to the intention of God. ”
other words Abuse survivors Can Use for father
The spirit of Jesus’ teaching on prayer is that God is personal. We should refer to him with a term that we associate with a loving provider.
The word Jesus used for “father” is even less formal than father. He called God his “abba.” It’s equivalent to our word “papa”.
If the words “father” or "papa" don't bring up good images that you want to associate with God, then what word does? Maybe “abba” works for you, or something as simple as “friend.”
God is more concerned about you than what you call him.
My point here is to not get tripped up on the word “Father.” Jesus is communicating to us that God is approachable. He wants us to come running into his presence, not stand off at a distance in fear.
What you call him isn’t the focus here. Coming to him believing that he loves and accepts you is.
My first granddaughter is starting to talk. My daughter asked me what her daughter should call me; Grandpa, Papa, or the French term, Papi? As I’ve thought about it I concluded that I really don’t care what she calls me. I just want her to know that I love her. I trust that she will find a word for me that works for her.
In the same way, God isn’t so insecure that he needs to have a certain title to feel respected. Mere humans can't offend God so easily!
I don’t think it matters to God what we call him. He just wants us to call him!
God cares for abuse survivors. He understands their situation...their pain, their memories, etc. He wants nothing more than to help them to find healing...not impose a word on them that causes more pain.
Question: Do you agree or disagree with this? Has using the word "father" been a problem for you in relating to God?
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