Title: Testing Prophets
Author: Christopher Harbin
Text: Deuteronomy 18:15-22
There are many voices claiming to speak for God. Some claim God to be love above any other trait or value. Others see God's judgment ruling over all else. Some treat God as a mascot for their political or economic ideologies. Some frame God as a personal butler focused on serving to make them feel better about themselves. Some speak of God as a pretext for expanding their power or influence. Many cite verses from the Bible to support these pet notions. They claim that if their voice is not heeded, then God is being denied, blasphemed, or called a liar. Amid the contrasting claims, whom do we trust to speak for God? Are they worthy of being heeded?
Today's passage calls attention to a time earlier on in the Hebrews' wilderness wandering. This was before there was any wandering to speak of, as they had not approached and turned back from the land of promise. Moses had been speaking "nostrils to nostrils" with Yahweh, per the Hebrew idiom. The people were afraid of such direct encounters with Yahweh. They wanted Moses to become an intermediary, instead. They feared approaching Yahweh directly. They wanted a buffer. They wanted someone else to bear that burden and communicate Yahweh's message to them in due time. They wanted God kept at a safe distance.
Over 35 years of ministry, I've often encountered similar attitudes. Parishioners have wanted me to be responsible for their every decision, their every word, every action they pursued. If I did not define something as sinful, I would be responsible before God for missteps they took in that direction. Far be it for them to open and study the Bible on their own, pray what I had not written down for them, or ask God directly for any guidance. Others could not abide the fact that every word of mine was not identical to what they had heard from other pastors or church leaders. Behind all of this was t ...
Author: Christopher Harbin
Text: Deuteronomy 18:15-22
There are many voices claiming to speak for God. Some claim God to be love above any other trait or value. Others see God's judgment ruling over all else. Some treat God as a mascot for their political or economic ideologies. Some frame God as a personal butler focused on serving to make them feel better about themselves. Some speak of God as a pretext for expanding their power or influence. Many cite verses from the Bible to support these pet notions. They claim that if their voice is not heeded, then God is being denied, blasphemed, or called a liar. Amid the contrasting claims, whom do we trust to speak for God? Are they worthy of being heeded?
Today's passage calls attention to a time earlier on in the Hebrews' wilderness wandering. This was before there was any wandering to speak of, as they had not approached and turned back from the land of promise. Moses had been speaking "nostrils to nostrils" with Yahweh, per the Hebrew idiom. The people were afraid of such direct encounters with Yahweh. They wanted Moses to become an intermediary, instead. They feared approaching Yahweh directly. They wanted a buffer. They wanted someone else to bear that burden and communicate Yahweh's message to them in due time. They wanted God kept at a safe distance.
Over 35 years of ministry, I've often encountered similar attitudes. Parishioners have wanted me to be responsible for their every decision, their every word, every action they pursued. If I did not define something as sinful, I would be responsible before God for missteps they took in that direction. Far be it for them to open and study the Bible on their own, pray what I had not written down for them, or ask God directly for any guidance. Others could not abide the fact that every word of mine was not identical to what they had heard from other pastors or church leaders. Behind all of this was t ...
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