When I sit down to write one of these thoughts, I pray. I ask God to guide me so that what I put into words makes sense and, maybe, gives someone a boost or makes someone think. I don’t hear a clear voice that says, “Steve, take a memo.” I think about what has happened in my life or in the last 24 hours. I remember the words of my teachers and friends and mentors along the way that allowed me to become who I am today. I ponder the needs around me and ask for forgiveness for the needs I can’t meet. I think that what I am writing is inspired by the Holy Spirit, but it isn’t perfect, and it isn’t Gospel truth. God isn’t forcing me to write these words.
God isn’t in control. To believe that is to say that we aren’t responsible for most of our thoughts, words, and actions. God isn’t a puppeteer controlling every move we make. God is the originator of our being, and possibly our decisions, but God is not forcing us to be or do anything. This is why you and I can read the same scripture passage and act completely differently on it. This is why I can read Bible passages about God being brutal and not blame God, but the people who wrote about it, and you can believe that God is actually that brutal and misogynistic because we can’t know God’s intentions.
God isn’t a sexist male. Jesus was male (but not sexist), and the Holy Spirit is neutral (Greek) or feminine (Hebrew), but God? God is described in so many different ways that I think it is impossible to gender God. And yes, Jesus called God Daddy; but Isaiah depicted God as a mother sheltering Her children. God is a Spirit, Jesus said. The Gospel of John calls the Holy Spirit him, which is a bad interpretation. The first century church, following the guidance of Jesus, treated men and women equally – at first – in a culture that found that subversive. The writings attributed to the Apostle Paul are mixed; it seems pretty clear that the role of women in the church changed because men couldn’t handle strong women. There’s a lot of that going around today as well.
God isn’t about forcing people to believe. I think that God wants us to believe in the Holy, but God doesn’t force God’s self on us. The role of faith bringer begins with parents, and a lot of parents aren’t doing a very good job of it. The answer, however, is not to put the 10 Commandments on public school walls or force children to recite the Lord’s Prayer along with the Pledge of Allegiance. Being formed in the faith isn’t a checklist; just like getting a baptism “done” and then never darkening the door of a church won’t help a child become faithful. Jesus invited people to believe; if they didn’t, He moved on, and He told His disciples to do the same. “Knock the dust off your shoes,” He said. Tell the story and let the person decide. We have free will.
We practice our faith well in many ways; we also don’t do it well in others. God isn’t going to force us to be something we won’t choose to be for ourselves. We need to stop the manipulative, forced ways we do church and offer God’s love without cost. Because God is love. God is welcoming. God is hopeful. We get to choose.
Prayer – Holy God, for all that You are, we are thankful. Keep us focused on that today. Amen.
Today’s art is “Free Will” by Stephen Sawyer.