Rob Bell’s “Feminine Images” For God -- By: Christopher W. Cowan

Journal: Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Volume: JBMW 14:1 (Spring 2009)
Article: Rob Bell’s “Feminine Images” For God
Author: Christopher W. Cowan


Rob Bell’s “Feminine Images” For God

A Review of Rob Bell, NOOMA: “She.” Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008.

Christopher W. Cowan

Associate Editor
The Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

Louisville, Kentucky

With the release of “She,” Rob Bell’s NOOMA video series reached its twenty-first installment. Published by Zondervan, these videos are well-produced and quite engaging to watch—due largely to the fact that Bell is a captivating speaker. Bell is pastor of Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a leading figure in the “emergent church.” Regarding manhood and womanhood, his theological commitments are clearly egalitarian.

Competent, biblical critiques of the NOOMA videos are available elsewhere.1 I would like to focus on the most recent video—“She”—and what Bell describes as “feminine images” for God in the Bible.

Before addressing my concerns with Bell’s presentation, let me acknowledge at least three areas of agreement: (1) Bell says that, according to the Bible, “man is created in the image of God,” and “woman is created in the image of God.” He is absolutely right. This affirmation is foundational to any biblical discussion of men and women. (2) Bell is right to praise the care and sacrifice of mothers. In spite of the fact that it is a high and noble calling, motherhood receives little commendation today. But few roles have such a profound impact on future generations. (3) Bell is also right to speak out against women being treated as “second-class citizens.” God has gifted Christian men and women to serve and function together in the church—the body of Christ. Every part of the body is necessary (1 Cor 12:12-31). A church in which women are not encouraged and granted opportunity to serve as vital members of the Christian community is both disobedient and unhealthy.

However, Bell’s larger concern in the video is to talk about God. And this is where his discussion becomes problematic. Here is an excerpt from the video:

There is this maternal impulse, this ancient nurturing instinct. And it transcends time; it transcends culture; it transcends economics. There is an ancient mothering impulse, and it’s also a divine impulse. Throughout the Bible, God is described as compassionate. In Hebrew, the original language of the Scriptures, it’s the word “raham.” It’s also the word for “womb.” So, God is compassionate. God is “womb-like”? This is a feminine image for God.

Now see a lot of people are very comfortable with male ...

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