Look at the stories in Scripture, both the Old and New Testament, of the many times that the prophet or the disciples are telling people things that they do not want to hear. Amos, Nathan, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jesus in the Temple, the disciples, Paul and the list goes on. Speaking words that the hearer does not want to hear. There has to be the presence of another will pressing against my own for there to be some reality to the mystery of God at work in the world. I am not God. God to be present needs to be other and over against what I want and seek.
But of course, it is just not that simple. If I am pro-choice, then the words of the pro-life people are messages that I do not want to hear. If I am pro-life, the thoughts of the pro-choice people are words that I do not want to listen it. If I am pr0-American, then the words of opposition from the Arab world are not acceptable to me. If I am more of a pro-world person, then the words of a patriotic American are not something I take seriously. So I do not want to accept that just because it is not something I want to hear, that it must be God's will for me.
Also if I want peace and happiness for all mankind, then I do not think it is God's will that turmoil, hostility and unhappiness afflict us all. Which seems to me that it drives us all back into the larger community of believers. It seems to me that the only productive way for us to listen to the will of God is in a large circle of believers who gather in the spirit to study the holy book. For me that is why "looking for a church home that fits our needs" is not helpful. Some where I have to submit my understanding of what is good, just and true about the Holy to the wisdom and spirit of others. Others have the same obligation to listen to the Spirit, the words, and what I think. That is why the church that tells me what I want to hear is not doing me any good. It is an on-going dialogue. The only difference from what we have going on now with different groups giving their different opinions is that it hardly looks like one side believes the other is really listening or caring what is side by the other. Neither side appears to be able to hear the struggle that is involved with the other side.
But I do know that God does not like everything I want and does not dislike everything I dislike. That I know for sure.
1 comment:
This strikes a chord with me. Your evocation of "the larger company of believers" is exactly the challenge we need.
For instance, to look very far afield indeed, there is the Chinese underground church, fiercely persecuted in ways we can scarcely imagine.
But you are quite rightly thinking of examples closer to home. The divisions in the Episcopal (Anglican?) church are approaching a farcical state. What can we do to encourage hearing genuine understanding of the "other's" point of view? Just asking....
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