Between Providence and a Cloverleaf

The difference between pre-destination and providence could be compared to a rigged game and a fair contest. Theologically the construct in pre-destination is that God has your life and all events therein fixed at conception. All outcomes and consequences are determined in advance. The concept of providence is more like from time to time the spirit nudges us, or a guiding hand leads us. With providence, often it is only seen when looking back upon an event. The reasoning of pre-destination would be no matter what choices are made either good or bad the events are beyond personal control. Free will has no part in this thinking.

Genesis 22:1-14 is a passage scholars call the testing of Abraham. It is difficult for us to fathom the obedience the patriarch displays because we know where God is leading, and while the outcome of the story is positive, the ending would have been far different with the sacrifice of Isaac. To concentrate on whether Abraham would willingly sacrifice his only son is to lose focus. A point worth some consideration is to concentrate on the earnest intent of Abraham to see where God wanted him to go, then to act in faith believing God would be present. This relationship began years ago when God asked him to leave his homeland and family to establish a land for God’s people. As part of the relationship, God changed Abram, and Sari, to Abraham and Sarah, and assured them the blessings of ancestors would be theirs.

With the relationship in full force, Abraham travels into unknown territory with his son Isaac. When his son notes that the wood and fire are present for the burnt offering, but asks where the lamb for the offering is, his father simply says God will provide it. We can merely speculate what went through Abraham’s heart and mind as he bound his son, placed him on the altar and prepared to sacrifice him. Only when an angel intercedes on behalf of God does Abraham look up and see the ram caught in the bramble. He named the place “The Lord will provide.” At the voice of the angel, what did Abraham see when he turned his eyes from the altar to the horizon? It seems fair to say he saw the promise of God in terms of relationship, along with a better value of providence.

Wow!

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
Real service is what I desire.
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
But don’t ask me to sing in the choir.

I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
I like to see things come to pass,
But don’t ask me to teach boys and girls, dear Lord,
I’d rather just stay in my class.

I’ll do what you want me to do, dear Lord,
I yearn for the Church to thrive,
I’ll give you my nickels and dimes, dear Lord,
But please don’t ask me to tithe.

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
I’ll say what you want me to say,
I’m busy just now with myself, dear Lord,
I’ll help you some other day.

This anonymous poem titled “Blind Spots,” was borrowed from a publication of “The Decatur Christian,” and printed in a Sunday Bulletin for this congregation on December 3, 1944. It serves as a valuable reminder to those who believe spiritual apathy is a current development in the faith community. Spiritual laziness, of course, can afflict any person of faith. Furthermore, with two career families, single parent households, children, and school, the demands placed on time are great.

Too often, those who work in the faith community (both paid and volunteer) ask where others are who might have talent to contribute to a program or a project? While it is helpful to wish for others to be involved, it can be hurtful to question another person’s faith commitment on the basis of participation. For this can lead to the LCM syndrome. We all know people like this; some of the best of us fall into this behavior from time to time. LCM stands for Last Christian Martyr, and this flawed thinking leads certain folks to think the Church would fall apart if they stopped doing whatever they do. The truth is, before we came, someone did the work of the Church, and after we are gone someone will do the work of the Church. Not because of human nature, but because God’s nature is to call us into active relationship.

Rather than looking around and asking why certain people aren’t involved, perhaps a new question is in order. The question functions along the lines of, “Am I searching for spiritual values to live by and then living toward them; with others and especially with God?”

Specialty

We live in a time of specialty drinks. From the ordeal of ordering a simple cup of coffee, to organic power drinks, each beverage is customized. Even water needs to come from a European well or mountain stream. When we were children soft drinks were a treat, as were lemonade and ice tea. However, we did have two options for a drink of water out of the kitchen faucet, or on a very hot summer day, straight from the hose. Did you cringe at the last sentence? Those of us who lived the experience did as well. In eighth grade science we learn that water is necessary for life. In fact, we as humans are mostly water, with an allowable factor of hot air and malarkey thrown in. The Space Program of the United States of America seeks signs of intelligent life on other planets. Any hope of proof comes with the discovery of a water source. For life to exist there must be clean drinkable water.

In John 7:37-39, the promise of life giving water first given in the Book of Numbers 20:1-13 is retold. Moses and the people wander from Kadesh seeking to enter Canaan without water until God instructs Moses to strike a rock for living water. In the text from John it is with Jesus being ‘life giving spiritual water’ who in relation to God gives life through the spirit as well. Just as Moses was challenged and threatened in the desert, Jesus is criticized then plotted against by religious opponent; just as the promise of a ‘Land’ was held before the people of Israel. In the third chapter of John, Nicodemus, a religious leader comes to Jesus at night to ask about the Realm of God. In verse five Jesus points that ‘ no one can enter God’s realm without being born of water and spirit.’ While this confounded Nicodemus and some within the early Church along with some today as well, it is consistent with early Christian practice rooted in Paul’s writing, the text of the Book of Acts, and the teachings of the Apostles.

We are told by Cultural Anthropologists that Native American tribal practice held that water was drawn at daybreak with enough brought to last the day. The next morning any left from the day before was considered ‘dead’ and poured out. An interesting concept with regard to modern hygiene and how stasis promotes disease. What is suggested in John’s text through the words of Jesus is that we, like Nicodemus, are called to a double birth; one with water and one from above as in the Holy Spirit. It is both fitting and refreshing we begin the season of Pentecost with this helpful reminder.

Finding Faith Everywhere

Where is faith found? To be sure faith is found in a wide variety of Holy writ, covering many languages and cultures. Faith is both caught and taught through lessons, doctrines and especially through song and proclamation during worship. Land is consecrated and buildings are built for the purpose of such teaching and gathering. However, is faith really found in an edifice or rather in the spirit of the gathered community seeking to know God?

Dr. Samuel H. Dresner was a student of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. In a book titled I Asked For Wonder/A Spiritual Autobiography, he compiles the teachers thoughts on a wide variety of topics. In one titled “Faith Is a Blush” he shares:

God
is unwilling to be alone,
and humans
cannot forever remain impervious
to what God longs to show.
Those of us who cannot keep their striving back
Find themselves at times
within the sight of the unseen
and become aglow with its rays
Some of us blush,
others wear a mask.
Faith is a blush
in the presence of God.

The Rabbi seems to imply, as the Prophets of Judaism insisted, that true faith begins in knowing our need of God, and in such awareness, obtaining a touch of humility which causes us to shine in the presence of Holiness. Remember the story of Moses on Mount Sinai, receiving the Commandments. As he came down the Mountain the people noted his face shone brightly for having been near God. Moses was not in the Temple, and still the result of his encounter with God stands today as a powerful symbol of the connection God has with people.

It has been said that the most important act of faith one might perform quite possibly will not take place in a Temple, Church, or Mosque; in fact, it may well occur on the highway, in the supermarket, or at a sporting event. We must be willing to broaden the horizon, and look beyond Holy sites for faith expression and experience. When this occurs the possibility of holiness happening simply causes us to shine.