THE CHRISTIAN LIFE FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2016
We have quite a group of theologians in this congregation. I
would go so far to say that most people in this church are theologians. By this
I mean, we think about God. Not in some simplistic Santa Claus figure in the
sky whom we ask for candy and if we are good boys and girls we get something.
Not that there is anything wrong with this theology….ok, there’s lots wrong
with that theology and it leads to profound problems and eventually violence,
war and questionable presidential candidates. But many people hold this type of
theology about God. They just wouldn’t know to call it theology. They’d just
assume that everyone believes this same way.
But we know here at University Congregational that few of us
believe that way. We actually prefer the questions to the answers. Robin is
walking us through the pitfalls and anxiety that living in ambiguity can cause,
but I’m here to share with you that the questions matter far more than any
concrete answer.
Moses, when he encountered God in the form of a burning bush
asked God who he was: The bush said I AM THAT I AM. Moses didn’t start theologizing and run to
the Tanakh and the priests and say, help me define this, guys. What does it means
that God just told me I AM THAT I AM. Let’s think about this…
No, Moses instead listened careful to his mission from God
(to free to Hebrew slaves) and Moses, in true Prophet fashion said, uh, who I
am to go to pharaoh and free our people? I’m not such a good speaker…surely you
can send someone else. And God in the form of a burning bush reassured Moses
and sent him on his ministry.
After a while, knowing who
this God was became less and less important to Moses. Knowing what this God wanted to be done became
more and more important to Moses.
I think sometimes our questions are out of order. I think we
get too caught up in God’s name or nature or whether or not God loves me, than
we do in asking this question: Am I doing to the best of my abilities, those
things that I’m pretty sure are pleasing to God? Do I love my neighbor? Do I
walk humbly with my God? Do I practice mercy and justice? Do I pray for God’s
will and God’s community to be made available for all? Or just for today’s
sports team? Or the lottery ticket in my pocket?
Do I work to build God’s beloved community for all, here and
now, with the gifts I’ve been given?
Or am I too preoccupied with being offended because someone
asked me a tough question that made me think theologically. Or someone said
something unfair about me. Or someone ate the last piece of pie. Or some other
perceived slight. Oh we love to get bent out of shape over the slightest thing
and then drive right by a homeless girl without anything to eat—driving by in
our nice shiny Buick.
Are we asking the right questions about God? Are we thinking
about God in theologically sound ways? How are you going to think about God
during today’s share meal of communion? Let’s stand and sing our communion hymn
found in your bulletin: As Grains on Scattered Hillsides
