godspeaking

A denomination (not Baptist) has as their slogan:  “God is still speaking.” That is certainly Biblical when you consider the many times God breaks into the scene and because of this people begin to imagine new possibilities of living and relating.

All week long I have been working on my sermon for this Sunday and I am wondering about God still speaking. Yes, I believe God speaks to me (and hopefully through me) for the sermon. But specifically I am wrestling with how God is speaking in Acts 11 where Peter is “explaining himself” to the Jerusalem Church. The problem was the Gentiles. Not all of them, just the ones who, and here I am quoting, “accepted the word of God.” (Acts 11:1) This meant that Peter and the others were rethinking what it would mean to live and relate with others, specifically the Gentile believers. Peter concludes with these powerful words: “Who was I that I could hinder God?” (Acts 11:17b)

I wonder about me; how do I attempt to hinder God and therefore stand in the way of God speaking something fresh and alive? What about you? Do you think God is still speaking?

Of course this can all get rather dangerous, right? Many times I have heard people tell me something like, “the Lord told me…” in order to defend their prejudices or personal views. Hmmm….this whole business of God speaking can be tricky. It would be easier to just believe that “God said it, I believe it, and that is that.” Yet if God is still speaking that means there is more to be said. That was certainly the pickle Peter and many of the other Jewish-Christians found themselves in when many Gentiles were starting to follow the risen Christ.

I would love to hear what you think about God still speaking and what ways others may attempt to hinder God. Who knows, it might show up this Sunday in a sermon. Better yet, it may better prepare us to listen and look for the growing movement of God.

Who knows, it might show up this Sunday in a sermon. Better yet, it may better prepare us to listen and look for the growing movement of God.