Composer's Hymn Interpretation: “Spirit of God,” The Faith We Sing, No. 2117

NOTE: I wrote an articleon the use of male, female, and neutral pronouns in referring to God the Holy Spirit. In the article I juxtaposed two hymns fromThe Faith We Sing that took opposite paths: "She Comes Sailing on the Wind" and "Spirit of God." Steve Garnaas-Holmes, author and composer of the latter, has provided the following additional thoughts on his hymn. Additional biographical information follows his comments below.

— Dean McIntyre, Discipleship Ministries

In writing "Spirit of God," I was intentional about addressing God directly as "you." I do in nearly all my songs and hymns. I believe that God is always present; therefore, though theologically we can talk "about" God, and although we may speak of the Three Persons, spiritually it is impossible to talk of God in the third person, as if God were not in the room. We can't talk about God without talking TO God. There are many names for God, but the most honest is "You," or, as Martin Buber would say, "Thou."

We — and this is especially true of poets, songwriters, and liturgical writers — struggle to create language of God that is both theologically rich and faithful, and also beautiful. It's got to be true, but it's also got to "sing." Gender-inclusive language really tries to create truthfulness — but totally bombs at poetic beauty. "God lays God's hands upon me" rolls off your tongue just like a square wheel. "God reveals Godself?" Cripes, what's THAT? Yet how else can we say it? Anything other than either "He" or "She" is awkward and stumpy. But maybe that's OK. God is too holy to be named. God is so infinite and beyond even what we know as "beauty" that even our most beautiful language about God, being inadequate, is a lie. The ancient Hebrews prohibited uttering God's name out loud. God is not in the words, but in the Word. Maybe we should make our language about God intentionally awkward.

There is good evidence that Jesus thought of himself as the incarnation of the Spirit of Truth, or Wisdom, who is personified as female (see Matthew 11:19 and Proverbs 7:4; 9:1-6). So even though Jesus was male, we may refer to the Incarnate Word as female. "In the beginning was the Word. And all things were made through him." (John 1:1) "Wisdom lifts her voice... 'In the beginning... I was with God like a master worker.'" (Proverbs 8:1, 22, 30).

The Orthodox and Roman traditions maintain the masculinity of God the Father, but in company with Mary the Mother of God.

The image of the Holy Trinity suggests that God is not a single person but community; not identifiable with a single aspect without its opposite as well. (God is both father and Son, both the infinite, sovereign Creator and also the mortal Jesus.)

I suggest we use both male and female language for all three Persons of the Trinity. One song may call the Spirit "She," while the prayer following speaks of "Him." Since God is infinite, he can reveal himself in whatever way she wants. But of course the best language for God is still "You."

Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Bow Mills UMC, Bow NH
[email protected]

Copyright © 2004 Steve Garnaas-Holmes. All rights reserved. Used on the United Methodist Discipleship Ministries worship and music website with kind permission of the author.

Steve Garnaas-Holmes is a United Methodist pastor in Concord, New Hampshire (after twenty-two years of ministry in Montana). He writes music and liturgical materials for his congregation's worship: songs, hymns, service music, anthems, prayers, creeds, Eucharistic prayers, and so on. He is also a member of and the writer for the Montana Logging & Ballet Company, a quartet that has been performing music and comedy around the country, and occasionally on NPR, since 1975. They've done many Annual and General Conferences.

Garnaas-Holmes wrote "Spirit of God" for an ordination service on Pentecost in 1987. It was accompanied by liturgical dance. The refrain may be used separately as a praise chorus or response. It appears in that form in The United Methodist Book of Worship, where some others of his pieces are.