Home Worship Planning History of Hymns The Faith We Sing Hymn Interpretation “She Comes Sailing on the Wind,” Number 2122

The Faith We Sing Hymn Interpretation “She Comes Sailing on the Wind,” Number 2122

"She Comes Sailing on the Wind," Number 2122
Words: Gordon Light (Gen. 1:2; Matt. 3:16-17; Mark 1:10-11; Luke 1:26-56; 3:22; Acts 2:1-4)
Music: Gordon Light

An interesting comparison can be made between "She Comes Sailing on the Wind" and hymn number 2117, "Spirit of God," by Steve Garnaas-Holmes. Both texts use some of the same Scripture references, but the authors have elected to use different language. Through the five stanzas of "Spirit of God," Garnaas-Holmes skillfully avoids all reference to sexual identity by avoiding use of the pronouns "he," "she," and "it" and by making use of the non-sexual "you" and "your." This is the path taken by some traditional hymn writers when they refer to the Holy Spirit.

Despite the fact that the God of the Bible does not claim a gender or sexual identity, the church and its Scriptures and hymnody have long referred to God in exclusively male terms. Referring to God as male is particularly difficult when talking about the Holy Spirit. Although the church has traditionally been comfortable referring to God with male pronouns, the church has not been as confrotable referring to the Holy Spirit with male pronouns. Most often, the Holy Spirit is seen as a genderless entity. However, our understanding is that God is a personal God and that the work of the Holy Spirit is intensely personal. How, then, do we refer to the Spirit in the English language when the conventions of the language require the use of a pronoun?

God has no gender, yet the English language requires the use of pronouns that carry sexual identity. It is proper that we not use the impersonal "it" when referring to God, even God, the Holy Spirit. That leaves us with "he" and "she" in the singular form. Is one preferred over the other? Is one more correct or incorrect? Is one more (or less) orthodox than the other? Perhaps the answer is to allow the use of both these inadequate pronouns until such time that our language presents an acceptable alternative for deity without gender. Until then, surely we can agree that the Spirit is never impersonal and is not an "it" and that neither "he" nor "she" is entirely accurate. Therefore, neither "he" nor "she" is more correct or acceptable than the other.

To comment on this article, contact Dean McIntyre at [email protected].


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