The below text is an excerpt from a letter I wrote back to a brother in prison addressing the word “God” and sharing some thoughts I have about it, and people who use it, etc. and whether or not we should avoid fellowship with them:
The word “God” doesn’t necessarily mean anything about a pagan deity, however. The “pronunciation” is the same as the pagan thing in Isaiah 65:11, but it’s also the same pronunciation as the tribe of Gad or the Prophet Gad as I previously mentioned. So why is it when someone says “God” they are automatically accused of paying tribute to a pagan deity of fortune? Why don’t people say, “Hey He’s paying tribute to the prophet of YHWH named Gad!” People can make arguments all day long about pronunciation but just because an English word sounds like something pagan doesn’t mean that English word is off limits in and of itself. If that were the case, I’m sure you would need to write your letters in Hebrew to me probably to avoid anything that is “pronounced” similar to something pagan. I’m sure in all the words you wrote to me, we can probably find something that sounds similar to a pagan word. I’ve even heard the word “the” might be similar to something pagan in origin. I never confirmed that, just giving you an example. English is filled with words that sound like other words from other languages. To avoid all pagan “pronounced-like” words, you’d have to basically learn Hebrew. Even then, the word ba’al is a Hebrew word itself and even the word ba’al isn’t pagan in origin. It was USED for pagan purposes, but originally it was a Hebrew word used normally in the Hebrew language.
Again, I’ve mentioned why I choose to avoid the word “God” – in addition to not offend others. But I myself, I am not offended when someone else says the word “God” – except I think in praise and worship services amongst believers – yes then I would feel the need to tune out and maybe later go up to the person hosting the gathering or the person who sang and explain to them why it bothered me they said “God” in their songs and help suggest ways for them to sing their songs without doing that.
Do I think we’ll be using the word “God” in the Kingdom? No. I don’t. And I think YHWH prefers the Hebrew words Elohiym, Eloah, El, etc. instead. But this is something we need to be patient with others over and by and through example, overtime, more may understand why it’s better to use another word. My personal opinion about translation is that Genesis 1:1 should say, “In [the] first-part, Super Super Power filled the skies and the land”. In some cases I would translate it as “Super Super Power” signifying a plural intensive by the word “Super” being repeated twice, and in some cases I would translate Elohiym as “Super Powers” when it is actually referring to a plural similar to the plural we’re familiar with in English – where there is actually more than one.
Insofar as translations and doctrine goes, it just creates confusion when the English Bibles put the word “God” everywhere instead of translating the different words El Eloah Elohiym and others differently. And it also creates confusion because a lot of people think of “God” as being a title only for our Creator when in reality in Hebrew the word Elohiym is a title others besides the Heavenly Father hold as well. So even if I knew for certain “God” were not offensive at all to YHWH, I still would not advocate using “God” when reading Scriptures because I view it as simply a very misunderstood English word that doesn’t clearly communicate what the Hebrew is saying.
Anyhow I hope that helps with my perspective on all that. If you close yourself off to anyone using the word “God” you’re going to miss out on a lot of opportunities to help others. You could know Hebrew perfectly, but if you hide in a cave 24/7 alone because nobody else knows Hebrew like you, then your Hebrew knowledge is for you and you alone and nobody will learn anything from you and you will learn nothing from anybody else either. Knowing words is not all there is to following Yahushua.
[part of letter excluded]
One last word then I’ll let you go – what if you became suddenly ill after a bad car accident, your family deserted you, and you were in an intensive care unit for 5 weeks alone and the only person who came in to care or talk with you or help you get kosher meals or accommodate you in any way besides a nurse was some stranger you never knew? He came in every day every morning, asking fervently, “What do you need? How are you feeling? What can I do for you?” And let’s suppose you could only write down what you needed and had tubes all in your throat except for a few hours a day to eat or something. But this guy came in day after day with gifts, presents, food, drinks, or whatever you had written down you needed. He stayed when he could to pass the time with you so you didn’t feel alone and isolated. He helped you get up to the restroom when you were too weak and helped adjust pillows when your strength failed and you had cramps from laying one way too long. He was the only person there many hours because the nursing staff is always overwhelmed and busy and only stopped by on a schedule.
But then suppose at the end of all that after you got well and out of there, he said your name wrong and called you [name removed for privacy] instead of [name removed for privacy]. Are you going to excommunicate yourself from a loving man like that because he said your name wrong? Or would his love cover over a multitude of sins?
Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.
Proverbs 17:9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.
1 Peter 4:8 And above all have fervent love for one another, because love covers a great number of sins.
What if that man who said “God” at the gathering is that kind of a man who would do that for you? But will you ever know that if you never really know who he is?