The term amen meaning “so be it” as found in the early scriptures of the Bible is a word of Hebrew origin. It originated in the Hebrew Scriptures, as a reply of confirmation, and is found in Deuteronomy as an affirmative response made by the people. Furthermore, in the Books of Chronicles, it is designated that near 1000 BC, the word is used in its religious meaning, with the people responding with “amen” to receiving the blessing: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from now and unto all eternity”.
Why Do We Say “Amen”? What Does it Mean?
At the end of a prayer, all God’s people say AMEN.
It has nothing to do with men or women. It is a simple affirmation of and response to the prayer made or blessing received. Saying “awomen” does not make the term gender inclusive any more than “fragwoment” would affect the term “fragment.”
I was raised Catholic, the origin of the Great Format, or as I put it – Holy Calisthenics. Sit, stand, sit, stand, sit, Reading 1, Reading 2, stand, Gospel, sit, sermon, tithe, handshake, kneel, Holy Eucharist, dismissal. I can honestly say I remember very little of the Word from then.
One mass though, I recall clearly. The deacon at the podium completed a reading which left my dad quite annoyed. It turned out that the man who had been reading aloud changed the scripture as written and instead of saying just “men” he said “men and women.”
Now to me, a culturally sensitive lapse Catholic teenager of Generation X, I didn’t see the issue. My dad took issue though, and after the service let the deacon know it. The Holy Bible is the Word of God. This deacon decided on his own to alter scripture to his own needs. Yeah, no.
I think Paul put it best in Galatians:
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
Galatians 1:10-13
Who was the Representative looking for approval from here? God or the world? God or man? God or woman? Jesus included everyone in salvation, regardless of any preferred pronouns. Turn away from sin. Accept Christ. Take the road less traveled, and choose to please Him.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
Matthew 7:13
Amen.
