How Do We Make God Present?

I have to say that often when I read the Old Testament or even the Apocrypha I get a little grossed out by many of the war stories there. Today's reading from 1 Maccabees 1:41-63 about how the king took over the nation of Israel and imposed his religion upon the people who already had their faith established is frightening. Why does such a story put some fear into the minds of Christians?

We may be embarrassed to admit it, but nations that have been known to be Christian nations in their history have years of conquest of many Jewish, Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist nations based on their religious and cultural biases. This is especially true for England and Germany. In more recent years it has become a very unfortunate truth for the United States. Many nations with a Christian bias have "in the Name of God" gone into other nations and plundered people at will attempting to change the religious, cultural and financial climate of a given country. The United States in the quest for industrial and commercial conquest of the world's resources has gone into three middle eastern countries and caused massive destruction. Yet, many Americans including me rest comfortably every night with this reality. We are all too comfortable at the expense of other people. To change this way of life would cost many of us too much and it would mean a sacrifice that all too many of us would not be willing to pay.

Today, Jesus asks each of us as he asked his Disciples in Matthew's Gospel, who do you say that I am? Peter was heroic in his response. Peter recognized Jesus as the "Son of the living God." In recognizing that, Jesus gives to Peter a leadership role in his church. Peter represents all of us who are questioning who God is and how do we make God present in our world. Peter is a weak man like all humans are. Peter has his prejudices that are imposed upon him through his cultural and religious background. In one decisive moment, Peter recognizes that God is in his presence through Jesus who is God's only begotten Son. Jesus' reward to Peter for allowing God to reveal God's self to Peter, is a reward that Jesus offers to each of us. The opportunity to unlock the goods of the Kingdom of God for the world around us is God's gracious reward for our faith. The power to loose and bind up that is given to Peter. The opportunity to be a rock in the church, is offered to all of us, not just Peter. The job description to lead the world around us into God's Presence through Jesus who is God's perfect revelation is written into the job description of every Baptized Christian.

How do we make God present? How do our lives testify to our belief in who Jesus Christ is? By what means do we bind and loose what is in heaven for all the rest of the world? How do we allow the Holy Spirit to help us build the Church on earth?

As we explore these and other questions, I would like to take us on a little refresher course for Episcopalians. The father of Anglican Theology known as Richard Hooker (1554-1600) helped us understand that our faith that is centered on Christ is supported by Scripture, interpreted by tradition and understood through reason. Richard Hooker once wrote:"What Scripture doth plainly deliver, to the first place both of credit and obedience is due; the next whereunto is whatsoever any man can necessarily conclude by force of reason; after the voice of the Church succeedeth. That which the Church by her ecclesiastical authority shall probably think and define to be true or good, must in congruity of reason over-rule all other inferior judgments whatsoever" (Laws, Book V, 8:2; Folger Edition 2:39,8-14). The Episcopal Church does their theology through Scripture, tradition and reason. The first two are used ever so appropriately. It is by not using the last one being reason that we so often miss the mark.

Scripture in and of itself is a very limited way to understand our relationship with God. Because the Bible in it's texts and languages is very complex and removed from our own time. The message of salvation contained in the Bible is undoubtedly true and changeless with time. However, the people, places, cultures, rituals and politics of the ages contained within the sacred texts of the Bible are not in and of themselves perfect nor are they without complication. It is through the Tradition of the Church that the basic foundations of Christianity as having been found in the Bible have been preserved and sustained. However, it is through the God given gift of reason that our understanding of what God really requires of us is open to constant change. It is through reason that the Church understood that the slavery of African American people was such an evil thing. It has been through reason that the Church has been understanding that women really do have a role to play as Priests and Bishops in the Church. So it is through the use of reason that Christians must view the Bible chapters and verses that have been understood to condemn homosexuality and understand that in reality the Bible does not condemn gay and lesbian people.

One of the ways we make God present in the world in which we live is being open to diversity and change. I have used the quotation before and I am about to do it again. Bishop Gene Robinson in his book: In the Eye of the Storm writes so beautifully: "that's just the way it is with the Spirit. It's that part of God that refuses to be contained in the little boxes we create for God to live in, safely confined to the careful boundaries we set for God's Spirit. The problem is--the miracle is--God just won't stay put. And God won't let you and me stay put, content to believe what we've always believed, what we've always been taught, what we've always assumed. Change isn't just something to be wished on our enemies--but something God requires of us as well." (Page 9 and 10). If God is to become present in our world through the work and ministry of Christians, then we must be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to change our hearts.

It is for reasons like this that I am so grateful for the work of Integrity USA and the Episcopal Church. I am very grateful for the work of Lutheran's Concerned and the ELCA. I am also grateful for the work of organizations like the Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities. Organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign, Outfront Minnesota, Project 515, The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Soul Force, Beyond Ex-Gay, Truth Wins Out,the Family Equality Council and Judy and Dennis Shepard. All of the churches, organizations and individuals I have named here today are making God's presence known through their work on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. They are finding room for LGBT people in churches, societies, and politics all over the nation. They are challenging old structures and inspiring change. The walls of prejudice and hate that have been built by the structures of the radical religious right are being brought down through the voices of reason and change. This is the Church binding up and letting loose the love of God in new and wonderful ways.

The other great way that these and other organizations are helping spread the news of Christ is helping LGBT individuals, couples and families find churches, societies and political places where they can make a difference in the world. LGBT people can find ways to reconcile and heal the hurts they have experience through biased religious communities, by seeking out God in affirming and accepting churches. The voices of hate are not the only voices that LGBT people must listen to. The hate version of Jesus Christ offered by the religious right is the untrue version of Jesus that LGBT Christians and other Christians of good will must reject. Jesus did preach a message of hope. Jesus did make and continues to make friendships with the marginalized, stigmatized and those left behind by society and the Church and this includes LGBT people. When the doors of Christians are opened to all people, the presence of God is revealed and the Holy Spirit does the work of Christ's healing in the world and the Church.

How are we revealing who God is today? How are we making Christ's presence known?

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace; Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Creator of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, #14 for the Unity of the Church, Page 818, Pronoun Father changed to Creator for inclusive language).