Hearing God

1 Samuel 3:1-21

“Hearing God”

15 October 2017 St. Andrew’s Military Chapel

Has anyone heard God speak directly to them? While it hasn’t happened to your beloved chaplain, he is fully aware that sometimes people do hear God speak directly and distinctly to them. I do know that if God were to speak to me I probably would not believe that I was hearing God, that the voice was the one in my mind or that I overheard someone’s nearby conversation.

Because someone hasn’t heard from God doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy or loved by God. Much like the beginning of this passage, God isn’t appearing to us in overt and obvious ways. Again, this doesn’t mean that God has left us to fend for ourselves all alone without communication or guidance. Just that God is working in our world through different means.

I’m also not so sure how God appearing in the sky or simultaneously on every mobile device on earth would be received. There would probably be a mix of fear that the end was near, that it was the greatest hoax ever devised, that an alien race was near and poised to destroy the earth, name whatever your fantasy scenario.

We have become people who expect and demand proof, so when we don’t see God face to face we can doubt the possibility of God in the world. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, for you need faith to doubt. Faith leads to questions that introduce doubt, doubt leads to exploring and strengthening faith. The cycle continues.

God seems distant in the world. The religious establishment is battered and bruised through scandals of all kinds, especially those dealing with sex, money, and substances. People’s trust and high view of religion and those who practice religions are on the decline. Religion is viewed as a hindrance to society rather than a help. Those who are religious begin to quietly ponder if God has abandoned us because of what is going on in the world.

Sound familiar? That is exactly what was going on in Israel during the time of Samuel’s call to the priesthood.

Sometimes, modern culture tends to think that our situation and the state of the world is a new development that has never been experienced in history. Today’s passage demonstrates that history does have a tendency to repeat itself.

Eli was an ageing priest whose sons had completely defamed the name of Eli and the priestly office he held. So much so that God has already told Eli he would be the last priest from his family. Israel was asking for a king, yet again so they could be like their neighbors and have a better standing in the world. The religious judges and priests hadn’t worked, in fact they were getting in the way of Israel becoming the power it was destined to become. People were unsure of God’s power in the world because God wasn’t physically there in a column of smoke or fire anymore.

Just like with Israel, God is still very much present and at work in the world today, just in a different way.

 It’s of note that Samuel’s call is different than the call of Moses and most other call stories we will hear in Scripture. In this case, Samuel does hear God clearly speaking to him, yet he is still young enough in the faith that he doesn’t full understand or recognize what is happening. He didn’t even know enough to ask the right questions. He just assumed that Samuel was calling for him. At least Samuel knew enough to go and ask Eli if he called.

Samuel’s call is also one to speak a word not against Israel, but against one individual, Eli. God tells Samuel that Eli’s days as a priest are over and that Samuel is the next priest for Israel. He will now be God’s voice and representative to God’s people. Samuel was reluctant at first, but did tell Eli. In a bit of shock, Eli took the news in a good spirit and honored both God and Samuel by continuing to teach and mentor Samuel towards his priestly office.

This passage beautifully demonstrates how intergenerational ministry should occur in the world. The youth and open ears of Samuel provided a conduit for God to do some amazing work in the world and to introduce something that would make everyone’s ears tingle. The elder Eli listened to what Samuel was hearing and through his wisdom knew it was God speaking and working in the world and Eli gave Samuel the time and mentorship to help God work in the world through Samuel.

God speaks in a variety of ways so we need a variety of mentors and experienced brothers and sisters in Christ to help us discern God’s voice in the cacophony of noise that surrounds us each day. Those of the older and wiser persuasion need to listen for God’s call on the younger believers through their actions and words. Conversely, the younger members need to take their ideas and inspiration to those who’ve been around a while to hear their suggestions and ways to enact God’s work in the world, because those with experience will help us avoid the pitfalls and frustration endured by many before us.

Along with the dual nature of intergenerational ministry spurring our ideas to completion, let’s also look at the interesting turn of phrase used in this passage, “I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle.”

What a powerful way to let the world know something amazing is about to occur. If someone were to tell you today that they had something that would make your ears tingle, what kind of news would you expect? Perhaps it would be juicy gossip. Maybe there is some bad news on the way for which they want to prepare you. Much like the character Saru in the new Star Trek Discovery series, where his body physically reacts to fearful situations, in our world today we tend to assume that when our ears tingle it signifies something bad is on the way.

There is nothing bad with ears that tingle in fear. In fact, that is a great defense mechanism that can save us from much trouble and harm. However, we cannot ever let fear be the only way in which our body reacts, or our ears tingle, to upcoming events and news. We also need to allow our ears to tingle with hope that good news is coming.

Hope in the world and people is a diminishing art and skill in the world. Not every situation or every action is something to fear and cause stress. Granted, there are plenty of situations where fear is warranted. I’m not saying that we should ignore the tingle of fear, rather that we should allow our souls to recognize both fear and hope in the world around us and act out of a healthy balance between the two.

I must make a confession to you all. I am one who tends to assume any tingle of my ears is one due to hope while ignoring the dangers of the world or the actions of others. If you doubt me self-assessment, feel free to ask my lovely wife and she will regale you with tales of my leaning too far towards a posture of hope. So, I need to work on not subduing my fear response as much as I do. I think we all need to get to a healthy balance. Not exactly 50-50 but maybe 70% hope and 30% fear.

This takes us back to the need to do what Samuel did in this passage. He was listening with both ears and wasn’t sure so took his concern to someone with more experience for advice and guidance. Something I know I could do more often in my own life. Even when God told him something that was fearful for Samuel in having to speak against his mentor, Eli gave him the strength and courage to do what God had instructed. Eli gave him the safe space he needed to be the priest God had intended.

As a church we are called to be that safe space where people can discern the right balance of fear and hope. A place where we can help others navigate the rapids of life with experienced guides. A place where our fears and hopes can be laid bare so that we can go forward with confidence and trust not just in each other but in God. Then we will know that even when the word of the Lord is rare, God is still speaking.

You can listen to sermons from St. Andrew's Military Chapel here.

More Than Forgiving

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

 “More Than Forgiving”

19 June 2016 St. Andrew’s Military Chapel Singapore

            I have to admit, it’s been hard sorting through all the things this passage has forced me to wrestle with. Reconciliation is such a hard and complex topic I don’t think anyone fully grasps all that word entails. I’m going to try, but be gracious with me and let today be a conversation starter in how we individually and collectively seek to move towards the costly grace found in reconciliation.

            A few weeks ago, we explored the idea of forgiveness and how hard it can be to forgive someone as well as how hard accepting forgiveness can be for us. Using the bishop from Les Miserables as an example we saw how forgiveness is where someone gives something of themselves to give us back to God. Not only that but that each of us individually has the power to forgive on behalf of the whole community. It is powerful to look someone in the eyes and boldly proclaim, “In the name of Christ you are forgiven.”

            I think we are all agreed on how difficult it is to forgive someone. Well, Paul just upped the stakes dramatically. He is now telling us that we are to engage in the ministry of reconciliation because God has reconciled us to him through Christ. So what in the world is reconciliation and what might that look like?

            Forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same. Forgiveness is a gift of mercy and grace given to one individual or group to another. A gift of grace not bestowed by merit. Nowadays we tend to view forgiveness as the end of the conflict and once we have offered or received forgiveness then our role is complete. However, it seems that forgiveness is a necessary first step in reconciliation.

           

            Reconciliation is a process, a journey in which individuals are transformed. Forgiveness doesn’t change behavior. It may heal wounds and serve as a public declaration of grace bestowed, but forgiving someone isn’t necessarily a transformative act. An initiator of transformation and a much necessary step down the road, but it is not transformative by itself.

            It seems that we want to conflate the two terms because offering forgiveness is easy and allows us to take the high road. If we are the ones in a position to offer forgiveness and we choose that option then we look to the world as the morally superior, dare I say righteous, party in the disagreement or conflict.

            And it’s understandable for us to stop at forgiveness. Because true reconciliation is messy and takes time. Those working towards reconciliation are neck deep in the muck and mire of life and rarely see the fruit of their labor. For the end point of a journey towards reconciliation is the peace of God’s new creation where we are all made new. It is Christ’s peaceable Kingdom which we may never see in our lifetime. It is a journey into lament of individuals and groups of people, listening to painful and heart breaking stories. But it is one of learning a new imagination and seeing conversion and change in small measure.

            I don’t have the full answer on how reconciliation plays out in our lives, nor do the so-called experts on reconciliation. Because, frankly it will look different depending on the communities and parties involved in the effort. It’s a God sized concept that we’ll probably never fully grasp or understand on this side of eternity. However, we can find glimpses to guide us on the journey of reconciliation.

            In 1948 South Africa elected a government that began the process of dividing people based on their race and passing laws that allowed the minority whites to exercise dominion over the majority black population. For almost 50 years Apartheid was the way of life for those living in South Africa. Then, through the work and influence of people such as Nelson Mandela world opinion turned against South Africa and negotiations began around 1990 to end Apartheid. In 1994, the first open elections were held with Mandiba becoming the Prime Minster.

            Part of the end of Apartheid was the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. An imaginative and graceful idea to bring the country together by allowing those who were harmed during Apartheid to share their stories while allowing those perpetrating human rights abuses in the name of Apartheid as well as in the name of liberation a chance to offer a public apology and request amnesty for their deeds.

            The TRC, like any human institution and attempt to reconcile people with God, had its flaws. There is debate as to its effectiveness and whether or not justice is required before reconciliation. However, those debates don’t change the fact that this was a sharp contrast to the typical victor’s justice we saw in Nuremberg. It was restorative justice with a goal of changing persons instead of mere punishment.

            A few weeks before I began seminary I participated in a wonderful program the seminary offered to entering students. For a week we got to know each other through community service. We met many different organizations in the area introducing us to the many religious organizations helping the community in which we would all live. We also got to meet individuals that told us different parts of the community’s story. And that’s how I met Ann Atwater.

            Like many blacks in the South in the early 20^th century, Ann had a tough life full of challenges. She eventually was introduced to an organization called Operation Breakthrough and was hired by them to participate in what we now call community organizing. One of her focus areas was in improving the respect and dignity blacks received from government organizations. Ann is a force of nature and was good at her job.

            In 1971 she was asked to co-chair in a group tasked to help integrate the Durham school system. It was there that she was paired with C.P. Ellis, the other co-chair. C.P. was the Exalted Grand Cyclops of the Durham KKK and had made it his mission to keep everything segregated. Ann knew of C.P. and initially turned down the offer to work with him. It’s a good thing she finally agreed to co-chair the committee.

            Through the course of their work together, Ann and C.P. realized they had a great deal more in common than in opposition. They both were working in their own way to help the poor of their communities. Their thinking changed. They became dear friends. Hearing Ann tell the story, you see the love she shared for a man she once resented. To top it off, C.P. was so changed that he left the KKK. He was reconciled to Ann, his community, and most importantly God.

            Paul calls us to the ministry of reconciliation because we are Christ’s ambassadors on earth and are called to be reconciled with each other and God. As I reflected on this passage and the meaning of reconciliation a few places in which we might participate in this important ministry were laid on my heart.

            Our location in the world here in Singapore rightly places us on a porch looking out at one of the global hubs of trafficking people. We can begin to learn about the issue and reach out to organizations that assist in stopping this problem. We can develop a relationship with these organizations and the people who have made it out to let them know the church values them and loves them as beloved children of God. It will take time, effort and sacrifice, but Paul never says its easy.

            Last week as we were gathering here in worship, someone walked into a nightclub in Orlando and opened fire killing 49 people. A horrific tragedy by any definition of the word. As the nation sat horrified and in grief over what had just transpired, a number of religious leaders qualified their statements of sympathy because the Pulse is a gay nightclub. The sexual identity and habits of those killed does not change the fact they too are beloved children of God. If there is any community in the US that the church needs to seek reconciliation it is the LGBT community.

            In the aftermath of the shooting we have seen some glimpses of reconciliation. Chick-Fil-A stores opening on Sunday to feed those donating blood, 8 hour waits for the last few days to donate blood to help the victims, calls for legislators to take another look at the blood donation requirements so those in the LGBT community can donate blood to their partners, and the outrage from church leaders to comments that this was judgment and towards those that qualify their sympathy. However, it is up to us to continue the long journey of reconciliation and not let these just be politically expedient words and actions. 

            Many of you may know Jen Hatmaker. As one much better with words than I shall ever find myself, she offered a way for the church to take an honest first step towards reconciliation with a community we have historically ignored at best and wholly rejected at worst. I offer her words for us to reflect on and I personally feel she says what is on my heart to everyone I know and love in the LGBT community.

“Call your gay friend, neighbor, daughter, college roommate, son, coworker, church member, brother - call them voice to voice, or even better, face to face where you can put loving arms around them and say:

"This was unspeakable. This was horrible. This was unconscionable. I see this evil and I condemn it fully. I will sit right here and grieve with you. We will not gloss this over or forget. You might feel unsafe or insecure or scared today, and I want you to know you are not alone. I love you and I stand by you."

            A first step in establishing a relationship with a community we as a global church haven’t shown much love to over the years. A first step towards reconciliation with that community and with God. A step on a long journey that will change our lives.

Being Faithful

Genesis 15: 1-18

 “Being Faithful”

21 February 2106 St. Andrew’s Military Chapel Singapore

            Abram is rightly lifted up to us as a paragon of faith. Much like David, we are extolled to be like him because he is the father of our faith. In fact, three major faith groups claim him as the father. We call Christianity, Judaism, and Islam Abrahamic faith groups.

For 15 verses in Hebrews 11, Paul extols the faith of Abraham (the longest description of faith in what some call the Faith Hall of Fame). Paul tells us that in faith, Abraham set out to an unknown place and stayed there longer than expected living out of tents. His faith provided him and Sarah protection and allowed them to overcome infertility. Most famously, in faith Abraham marched Isaac up a hill and laid him on an altar as a sacrifice to God. Thankfully, God stepped in just in the knick of time. And we also remember Abram (or Abraham as God changes his name a little later in time) for these deeds.

Unfortunately, much like David, we like to point to certain righteous episodes in Abram’s life as what a life of faith looks like. With David, the whole Bathsheba and Uriah episodes are glossed over or turned into a leadership lesson for military leaders. With Abram, we tend to ignore how he disowned Sarah, who Ishmael’s mother was, how he and Sarah laughed at God (though to their credit they did recognized angels in their midst during that story), and how in this story Abram actually has the audacity to question God directly.

Maybe it’s because our society likes winners and is quick to allow for second chances that we gloss over these stories. Maybe it’s because we want happy endings and are scared to attribute any struggle to God’s hand, so we just write god given struggles off to evil’s residence in the world. Maybe we still cling to the ancient idea that if you aren’t succeeding, aren’t blessed, then karma, Murphy’s Law, bad luck, etc. is having it’s way with you because you aren’t a true believer. It leads us to think that questioning our faith is a lack of faith. And that way of thinking is very dangerous, and frankly unbiblical.

It’s ok to question one’s faith. In fact, I’d argue it’s essential to strengthening one’s faith. Life will always throw a curve ball when everything tells us to expect the heat right down the middle. Typically, the questions lead us deeper into Scripture and our own understandings and interpretations that we are more confident in our faith. This leads to further questions, thus repeating a very healthy cycle.

Sometimes things happen that we have no control over that leads to questions. In those situations, people on the outside typically call the situation a faith crisis. I’d like to have us erase that phrase from our theological vocabulary. In this passage, an outsider may accuse Abram and Sarai of a faith crisis, but they are asking God a legitimate and important question. God promised them they would be the beginning of a great nation, but they are as yet unable to conceive a child.

            We enter this story at the point where Abram has had enough of the blind following. Or maybe the blind following has him thinking deeply about his faith and has lead to questions, doubts. He was promised something and is getting old, so he questions God, “What are you going to do for me because I still don’t have a child? Are you going to fulfill your covenant with me through one of my slaves?”

            The father of our faith had questions. Important ones. Questions we all ask in difficult times. Faith and trust are synonymous more so than faith and blessed. Sometimes we fall into the American trap of thinking our faith manifests itself in the outward appearance of a good life, what many would call a blessed life.

            One of my instructors from seminary recently had a piece published in the New York Times Sunday Reader. In it she states:

            “Over the last 10 years, ‘being blessed’ has become a full-fledged American phenomenon. Drivers can choose between the standard, mass-produced ‘Jesus is Lord’ novelty license plate or ‘Blessed’ for $16.99 in a tasteful aluminum. When an ‘America’s Next Top Model’ star took off his shirt, audiences saw it tattooed above his bulging pectorals. When Americans boast on Twitter about how well they’re doing on Thanksgiving, #blessed is the standard hashtag. It is the humble brag of the stars. #Blessed is the only caption suitable for viral images of alpine vacations and family yachting in barely there bikinis. It says: ‘I totally get it. I am down-to-earth enough to know that this is crazy.’ But it also says: ‘God gave this to me. Don’t blame me, I’m blessed.’

            “Blessed is a loaded term because it blurs the distinction between two very different categories: gift and reward. It can be a term of pure gratitude. ‘Thank you, God. I could not have secured this for myself. For being the kind of person who gets it right.’ It is a perfect word for an American society that says it believes the American dream is based on hard work, not luck

            “If Oprah could eliminate a single word, it would be ‘luck.’ ‘Nothing about my life is lucky,’ she argued on her cable show. ‘Nothing. A lot of grace. A lot of blessings. A lot of divine order. But I don’t believe in luck. For me luck is preparation meeting the moment of opportunity.’ This is America, where there are no setbacks, just setups. Tragedies are simply tests of character.

            “It is the reason a neighbor knocked on our door to tell my husband that everything happens for a reason.

            “I’d love to hear it,’ my husband said.

            “Pardon?’ she said, startled.

            “I’d love to hear the reason my wife is dying,’ he said, in that sweet sour way he has.”

            Kate goes on to conclude the article saying, “but mostly I find the daily lives of believers remarkable and, often, inspirational. They face the impossible and demand that God make a way.” Sounds a bit like Abram demanding God to come through with his ridiculous promise of descendants greater than the stars in the heavens.

            I frequently attend the Montreat Youth Conference during the summers I am not half way around the world from North Carolina. My favorite role is to volunteer as the College Work Crew Coordinator where I work with students who are at least a year out of college and we work as the behind the scenes sherpas to help the conference run. It lets me meet not only some amazing students, but I really get to know all the other volunteers and their families.

            One family I have been blessed to meet is the family of a gifted photographer, Michael. He does that work full time and has even been credentialed by both Florida and Florida State which allowed him to go to the national title game in Pasadena a few years ago, among other high level athletic events around the country. Not just Michael, but his wife and two daughters ooze the love of Christ and are a family I always hope to find on the same team of volunteers the years I get to attend Montreat.

            Last Sunday, my Facebook feed exploded with the news of his youngest daughter’s tragic death in a car accident. She was only 20. I just looked at the screen in shock for a long time when I woke up Monday morning. Laura was just a beacon of light wherever she stood. I can’t imagine their pain, I can’t offer words because there are none.

            I haven’t talked to them, other than sending a message like hundreds of others of the Montreat and Jacksonville families. It wouldn’t surprise me if they, like Abram and Sarai are asking deep, hard questions of God right now. For I know that everyone whom Laura touched with her infectious personality are asking questions as my news feed can attest. And, I can confidently proclaim, there is no way that is a lack of faith. Amidst the questioning there is trust that God will make sense of that tragedy somehow as a week later I am continuing to see photos with the #LivelikeLaura. It takes an unbelievable amount of trust to seek and speak beauty into unspeakable tragedy. And that, my friends, is faith.

Faith isn’t just believing, it isn’t just confessing, it isn’t following rules. It is trusting God. It is trusting that God is there. Even in the midst of infertility, cancer, tragedy, fill in the blank. I can doubt his motives, I can question his methods, I can yell at him for causing pain, and I can wonder why certain things happen in a certain order.

            But, the fact that I am asking means that I trust God is there. That God is real. That it all matters and means something. Despite our doubts, or maybe because of our doubts, we can trust in God not really knowing what is next, climbing out of a valley confident God is there. And that’s a faith I can believe in. That’s a faith I want to believe in. That’s the faith I strive for.