Mother Hen

04/01/24 • 30 min

In this episode, we explore how we implicitly interact with our theology and how using different metaphors can give us a renewed access point with God. Sometimes we have to use our hard and painful moments to sense God’s nearness. This is a valid and important experience to note and be curious about in your life! That’s because God is so very near to our suffering, as we talked about in Episode 01. However, there is a case to be made for why and how we can also access God’s nearness in the best moments. Elisa shares a personal story about one of those moments today.
Throughout our discussion, we specifically look passages of scripture that depict God as a mother. We also talk about what it means to see God as a father in an ancient context. Lastly we talk about the two accounts of human creation (in Genesis 1 and 2) and what it means to prioritize the first.
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Bible References

Luke 13:34 (NIV): Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.
Isaiah 42: 14-16 (NIV): For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back.But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant. I will lay waste the mountains and hillsand dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools. I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Isaiah 49:15 (NIV): Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
Isaiah 66:13 (NIV): As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.
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Related Resources

Megan K. DeFranza - Sex Difference in Christian Theology: Male, Female and Intersex in the image of God
Henri J.M. Nouwen - In the Name of Jesus: Reflections of Christian Leadership

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Support the show

This podcast is a production of Worship Lab, and recorded in Brooklyn New York. Our executive producer is Armistead Booker. Our technical director and engineer is Gareth Manwaring. And our sound designer is Oleksandr Stepanov. Music by penguinmusic - *Better Day* from Pixabay.

Share your ideas with us! You can email [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Support the show

Share your ideas with us! You can email [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Previous Episode

Stories and Maps

In this very first episode, we’re examining the story of Easter juxtaposed with one of our personal stories.

Each of us has been through a lot, and have had the opportunity to deconstruct our faith. At this point in our journeys, we still think there’s something beautiful to hold onto: we’ve found that looking at the story of the Bible through a new lens can bring much healing and life.
When it comes to the Easter story in the Christian faith, we both believe that all of human suffering is held on the cross because God chose to suffer with us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We can see that God is good and loving because He held nothing back from all of humankind.
Welcome to The Exile Project with your hosts Patricia Manwaring and Elisa Booker. We’re so glad you’re here with us.
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Bible References

Luke 4:18-19 (NIV): The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
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Related Resources

James Fowler - The Stages of Faith
W.J. de Kock - Out of My Mind: Following the Trajectory of God's Regenerative Story
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Support the show

Share your ideas with us! You can email [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Next Episode

Evolving Theology

In today’s episode, we explore theology, using Dorthee Soelle’s definition, “an invitation to think deeply about God.” Everyone has a theology, even if they don’t realize it. We want you to feel empowered to take ownership over your personal theology.
Throughout our discussion, we dig into the differences between orthodoxy and theology. We also look at personal stories that kickstarted the development of our own theology.
— Theology is ever evolving, even in the Bible
— God is safe
— God’s heart is freedom for the oppressed and garden like intimacy
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Resources
Dorothee Soelle - Thinking about God: An Introduction to Theology
Kat Armas - Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us about Wisdom, Persistence and Strength
Marty Solomon - Asking Better Questions of the Bible
Brennan Manning - Ragamuffin Gospel
Donald Miller - Blue Like Jazz

Rob Bell - Velvet Elvis
Jeremy Meyers - Types of Theology (Blog: Redeeming God)

The Bible Project

Bema Discipleship

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Bible References

Genesis 18: 1-15
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Important Take-Aways

- The heart of an evolving theology is deconstruction and reconstruction
- We can embrace empowered theology
- God is always experiential
- Our current moment demands that theology is in the hands of everyone
- It’s okay to have questions but not answers
- The Bible is an important source for wisdom
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Support the show

Share your ideas with us! You can email [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

The Exile Project - Mother Hen

Transcript

You're listening to The Exile Project with your hosts Elisa Booker and Patricia Manwaring.
All of our human experience. Adds up to the lens with which we interact with other humans, with our partners, with God, with the church, with our theology. But if I'm using my imagination to even get near perfect love, then I need to use the people that have been the best versions of love in my life. Yeah.
Hi, everyone. I'm Patricia. I'm Elisa, and we are so glad you're here. Welcome to The Exile P