culto, cultura, cultivar [esther #3]

"The kind of God we worship affects the kind of culture we create." -Darrow Miller

The words culto (worship in Spanish), cultura, and cultivar come from the same root in Latin--linking worship, culture, and care of the earth in a single breath.

Do we believe the gods are capricious, that they need to be appeased to send blessing, or do we believe in a just, holy deity? If it is the former, it is likely we will build a society where bribes and corruption become acceptable ways to "get things done."

Do we believe that the earth and humanity itself was created by loving Hands, to be tended, nurtured, and developed, or do we believe the physical world has no value, for it will eventually be destroyed? If it is the latter, it is likely the physical realm will become of secondary importance--that the earth and human bodies themselves will be exploited for selfish gain.

Do we believe both men and women reflect in equal measure the character of the god we worship? Or do we actually believe god is more like one gender than the other? If the latter, it is inevitable that one gender will become exalted and the other despised.

For a long time I have heard God only referred to as father. Only in the last several years have I heard any mention of the mother-heart of the God I worship. Now I'm no "radical feminist", but if one never acknowledges the Source of femininity as equally divinely inspired as masculinity, what exactly are we teaching about this Trinitarian being whom we adore? Is God a man? No. Neither is God a woman. The fact is, God transcends our biological categories--the apostle Paul himself argued that in Christ there is neither male nor female, "for all are one in Christ Jesus." If one truly believes this, there is no longer any room for superiority or inferiority on the basis of gender--all are equal bearers of the image of God, and all have been given an important role in the cultivation of the earth, the development of culture.

Is it possible, though, to simultaneously maintain the idea of "equality of being" with "diversity of function" without falling into simple stereotypes or superiority complexes? Isn't it true that both men AND women are both nurturers AND providers? And isn't it true that both genders are called upon to both these essential functions at various points in life? Absolutely. The problem is that throughout history the function of provider has been exalted and the function of nurturer has been dismissed.

The true development of nations will require the proper honor be given to the nurturing roles in a society; if not, the generation to come may have nothing but material prosperity--and perhaps not even that. [to be continued]