God and Pronouns

I really appreciated everyone who threw their two cents into the ring on the question of what pronouns you use for God and why. There is definitely a diversity of perspectives on the issue, which can be good, when it generates thoughtful dialogue and conversation. This is an important issue to me--both in terms of how we think about God, and about how we think about gender in humanity. So, rather than just jumping into exactly how I choose to refer to God, and why, I will start out by naming a few of the difficulties I see with several of the different options.

1) Using only "He" to refer to God: Yes, Jesus did address God as "Father" which is a masculine title; and Jesus was a man, himself. Using "He" can be supported by these facts, but it neglects some of the other biblical references to God where God is described in female terminology, the fact that in Hebrew and Greek the Holy Spirit is feminine, and the point Rachel brought up (in my other blog) about Genesis 1 and that men and women are both made in the image of God, and that only together can God's image be more fully realized. To me this is a really important point--that God's image is found in both men and women, and when we only use "he" there is a way we are neglecting part of God's very image. And I differ with typhoon5ht, where he said (again, in my other blog) that "In English, "he" is supposed to be used when there is no specificied gender." This was true decades ago, but in the most recent academic literature in every field, he and she are both used when there are no specified genders (because many people realized the inherent masculine preference in only using "he").

2) Using only "She" to refer to God: Again, by choosing one gender preference, we are neglecting something of God. If men and women are both made in God's image, and neither has greater access to being in God's image, neither pronoun should be used exclusively.

3) Not using any pronouns, but always just using "God": This was my preferred method for a while (though it can sound awkward in some phrases). But as I was talking to a close friend about it, she was saying that she felt like it can become impersonal. And I kind of agreed with that. God does seem more personal when we add a gendered pronoun, in a way that I think gives us humans a better sense of God's being close. Not that God is just another human, but when God is always "GOD"....well, it just can seem a little daunting. (which can at times be helpful, but at other times can, I think, be unhelpful.)

4) Switching between the pronouns: Though I think this can be helpful, there is a way that when you switch back and forth too often, instead of adding characteristics and fullness to God, it takes everything related to gender away. It can have some of the repercussions of 3, where some of God's personalness is removed.

Okay, so...more thoughts?