Because religion is man-made it oppresses women. God’s love and truth are incomparably better.

“Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And [the Lord] said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” (Exodus 33:18-19)”

Nothing is more convenient than a make-it-yourself religion. My DIY religion would say I must travel to a remote surf spot, no matter how much it costs, so that I can devote myself to surfing! Sadly, my wife will never convert to my religion because she doesn’t swim well. (Hey, at least I would offer baptisms by full immersion!)

Religion oppresses women because religion is man-made. Which woman would invent a religion that says when you die you will be served wine by fifty big-breasted virgins? That’s obviously man-made. Which woman is going to invent a religion that says only males can turn bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood? That’s obviously man-made.

Even the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is believed by Buddhists to be the 14th incarnation of the Bodhisattva of compassion. Unsurprisingly, all 14 incarnations of this spirit are male. That’s obviously a man-made religion.

No wonder some philosophers think there is a need within human beings that makes us invent ‘gods’ that correspond to our needs. Why else would people invent gods?

Thank God the Truth is better than any man-made religion. The Truth is that God created both male and female in His image. God is not any gender but a Spirit. God also perfectly corresponds to our greatest need.

In the passage above, the Ancient Israelites imagined that God is best represented by a golden calf. This is because they had a corresponding need for milk, transport (a calf is the ancient version of a modern four wheel drive), food, farming, clothes etc. So a golden calf was an excellent god-choice for people living in remote wilderness.

But to exchange the glory of the True Uncreated God for a created image of gold is serious sin because it dishonours God and corrupts humanity. We always resemble what we worship and if we worship anything less than a human being we will corrupt our humanity.

At exactly the moment when people sinned so greatly, God reveals that He perfectly corresponds to what people really need: grace and mercy! Proud people who don’t see their sin will not see the value in God being gracious and merciful any more than someone with a perfect heart will value the offer of a free heart transplant. Instead, proud people will invent a god who is more convenient.

The True God who reveals He is full of grace and mercy is the same God who tells us what great sinners we are. He has also put the witness of our consciences within us to confirm this.

His grace and mercy are fully seen when He became the man Jesus and died as our substitute. Mercy: God does not give us the punishment we deserve. Grace: At the cross, God gives Himself to us though we don’t deserve Him.