RECOGNIZING THE VOICE OF GOD
Hebrews 1:1-4, 8; 2:1-4

A sermon given by the Rev. Richard H. Taylor
October 3, 2004 / Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The British government would not let John Robinson, the pastor of the Pilgrim congregation that sailed to Plymouth in 1620 come to America. So, just before the Mayflower departed, Robinson gave a famous sermon that included the message that “God hath yet more light and truth to break forth from his Word.”

In other words Robinson is saying, “You don’t know everything, yet. Be open the change. Be ready for new occasions to teach new duties.” A fancy name for this idea is “progressive revelation.” The revelation of God is not static, not only engraved in stone, but grows as we grow.

To me Robinson was correct. Since his time we have heard God in new ways: about slavery, and democracy, and human rights; about the role of women, about the knowledge gained from Biblical criticism, about re-learning Christ’s empathetic presence with the poor.

Now our denomination, the United Church of Christ, has become excited about the idea that we are the Church that believes in progressive revelation; that we are the Church that can hear new nuances in the voice of God; that we are not only reformed, but constantly reforming; that we believe we may have to change.

As part of that the Church has prepared a major identity campaign called “God is still speaking.” You can see a banner to that effect on the outside of our building. It says, “Do not place a period where God has placed a comma.” During Advent, this December, the United Church will broadcast media advertisements in markets all over the country to welcome people into our churches, as the congregations that worship the still speaking God. To kick off Rhode Island interest in this campaign a major combined state-wide worship service will be held here on Sunday November 7 at four in the afternoon. You will hear more about it.

But I am not so sure about all of this. When Robinson said “God hath yet more light and truth to break forth from his Word,” he may not have meant that God would keep babbling on, like someone who does not know how to shut up. He may have actually meant that the Word is already there, but you will see more light and truth in it in the future that you have not noticed before. The preference for the poor, the revolutionary opening up of the roles of women, and the nuances of form criticism are some of the ways that through time we have seen new light from an old and already written Word.

The writer of our text for today says that God has spoken in many and various ways by the prophets, but more recently by a Son – Jesus. The apostle then encourages us to “pay greater attention to what we have heard.” That could very well be progressive revelation. But it also could mean, you missed many of the points, goals, and phrasings already there. It could mean re-assess what you have been given.

But that is not the same thing as “God is still speaking.” God is still speaking implies that there might be new prophets speaking today. God is still speaking suggests that there are new messages and new revelations to be added to the existing canon. This creates all kinds of problems that are not encountered by people who think God has stopped talking. If God is still speaking then through whom is God speaking? And how do we determine if the message and the voice we hear is really the voice of God, or only some wolf in sheep’s clothing? Or are we to believe that the voices which swirl around in our heads are actually of divine origin, and that each of us has a direct line to God’s inner conscience, and that we known individually and Sheila-like the will of God? How do we discern the true God from God’s detractors? Indeed does saying that God is still speaking – perhaps directly to us – mean that our hearing of voices sets us all up to be candidates for the mental asylum? If God is still speaking, then which voice is God’s?

There is, of course, another side to all this. I have always been a great lover of the hymn, “How Firm a Foundation.” It has been popular in our family, and my brother asked that we sing it at his funeral. Someone even suggested that it should be the theme of our re-dedication in a few weeks: our firm foundation.

But the hymn says – as you can see on the insert in your bulletin – “what more can he say than to you he has said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?” The song’s message seems to be that enough has been said already. The song even goes on to prove it by following this acclamation with Biblical verses and themes. Hasn't God already given you enough promises, enough protection and support? Listen to what has already been said.

Indeed, every year when the Southern Baptist Convention meets, they end the meeting by standing up and singing “How Firm A Foundation.” And I am sure that part of their faith in singing is that enough has already been said. Is this the way to distinguish the UCC from Southern Baptists? Our God is still speaking, theirs has stopped talking?

Also on the outside wall is a rededication banner that says “Our Firm Foundation.” Next to it we will have a banner saying “God is still speaking.” The wise and aware people looking at our banners might say that we have a dual personality. We are saying both God has said enough and God is still speaking. Are we really UCC or are we Southern Baptist? Which banner expresses your position?

And then there is even another layer to this. As the meditation in the bulletin today I put part of a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke. Rilke suggests that voice of God can be frightening and fearful. He prays to God, “please don’t talk… Be our shepherd, but never call us.” In so saying Rilke is actually being both very Biblical and very prophetic. The prophet Amos says much the same thing: “Why do you desire the day of the Lord? for it is darkness and not light.” (Amos 5:8)

Indeed those of us that sing “How Firm a Foundation,” seem to deliberately find all the positive verses: “I am with thee, I will help thee, the flame shall not hurt thee,” Nice positive stuff. And those of us that want to believe God is still speaking, often say we hear God talking about the rights of GLBT people, and the protection of the fabric of the Earth, and the ending of guns and warfare. Again all very nice stuff.

But is that how God is inclined to talk? What do you really think God would say to humans who are allowing horrid massacres to kill thousands in the Sudan? What would God say to wealthy and plush Americans about the poverty of Haiti? What would God say about corruption in southern New England, about Mafia bosses, and corrupt greyhound racing tracks, and public radio bosses who not only rip off University students, but who think “justice” is a political idea, and has nothing to do with religion and morality? What would God really say if God were still speaking? Would you really want to hear what the almighty God, creator of heaven and earth really has to say about your own personal life style and choices? It is not soft and cuddly. We may prefer silence.

I really want you to think about these questions. I almost want to pause here for twenty minutes and come back later to tell you what I think.

But since I only really get this one chance to comment on this, here is what I think.

First I believe that the Word already given is full and sufficient for salvation. Even if God had more light and truth we don’t know yet, even if there are things God is saying that we have not heard; and since we live in sin there is probably a lot that God has said that we have not heard; nevertheless what has been said is sufficient to put your trust in God. God has said that God loves humanity, that God loves people, and that includes you. God has indicated that God is a God of compassion and justice and we are called to live accordingly. God forgives sin, God sanctifies to us our deepest distress, and God gives us courage to go on. And I believe God’s intention for eternity is good. All of that has already been said. And I believe that what has been said is a sufficient foundation on which to build your life.

Second, I do believe that God is still speaking. One of the ways God is still speaking, is that God has already spoken and we have not yet heard. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews distinguishes between God speaking and the attentiveness of our hearing. There are things already said that we have not heard, or not understood, and so that will seem to be new revelation.

But I also believe God is still speaking. I believe God spoke through Gandhi, and King, through Madame Currie and Jonas Salk, through Johann Sebastian Bach and Flannery O'Connor. If you listen you will hear, for it is said “the sheep know my voice.”

And I even believe that God is still speaking in our soul, in our psyche, in the voices inside our head. Not like some whirling continuous sound. Perhaps what I am saying is that God speaks in a silence too deep for words. It is a voice we seldom recognize, and even less frequently follow. And it is voice both comforting and disturbing, both encouraging and challenging, both calm and irate. It will take all your attention to hear it, but it will seem surprising and simple, transformative.

And the voices will agree. The new voice within, the old voice long given, and the voice heard in the neighbor, should they be true, will agree. Agree on a newer profounder deeper level, but will be in accord, a harmony incredible.

So listen. Listen to the spoken word. Listen as people chew bread and pray today. And listen to your heart, and discern.

Amen.