The Plain Dealer’s front page for this past Sunday, June 21st , carried this
headline for a story below the fold. “Ohio’s Legislature Has Been Roiled
by Differences.” Notice of such division, particularly in a legislative
body, is not news! One could fill in the name of nearly any public or
private entity and a similar story of progress-halting division could be
reported.
To be sure, we are living through – enduring really – a time of
seemingly endless irreconcilable differences. EVERYTHING – including
many, many families and relationships of all description – might be
described as being “roiled by differences.” The resulting social divorce
and broken relationships are painful to watch or know about and
particularly…experience.
What makes our current time of division even more damaging is the
concerted effort on the part of many to benefit by our various divisions.
Indeed, promoting division has seemingly become an applied “social
science.”
We cannot even fight off a pandemic with a sense of unity of method
and resolve. Wearing face masks to hinder the spread of infection has
become a political issue rather than a good health practice.
Restrictions on gathering in groups is seen as an infringement on
Constitutional Rights. Community health professionals’ lives are
targeted, threatened and abused.
Irreconcilable differences have always been with us. But, exploiting
those differences by those who seek personal advantage as a result of
division is threatening to undo us all.
In this context, one might think (like the Plain Dealer article mentioned
above) of current politics or current political leadership. But, the resulting anger such thoughts generate – without the context of an
abiding faith – can ruin an otherwise beautiful day.
What can we do about any of this? What can we do with ourselves?
With no apology to professing atheists or those caught up in a self-
satisfying, religious indifference, the REASON such exploited,
irreconcilable differences threaten to undo us is because TOO MANY
OF US HAVE MADE GOD TOO SMALL. In our spiritual lives there is
nothing big enough to generate a humility that will lead us to discover,
if not common ground, HOLY GROUND.
When God is too small in our thinking and believing too many can come
to believe that God is on their political side and even a cheerleader for
a particular political agenda, candidate or platform. The American
Mega Church phenomena of civil religion and its economic prosperity
gospel comes to my mind.
When God is too small in our thinking and believing, denominations
once inspired for great good in service to the Creator become objects of
worship in and of themselves. Church politics becomes an ecclesiastical
blood sport. The ash heap of United Methodism at its General
Conference sessions comes to my mind.
I struggle for a solution or solutions. I have none.
But, I trust that God has – and always has had – solutions. I trust that
God makes those solutions come about either in spite of us or through
us. God makes a way out of no way. City streets filled with thousands
of us in peaceful affirmation that Black Lives Matter comes to mind.
I trust in a God who is greater, a God who is bigger, a God who is
faithful and in God who will work things out.
I trust that as bad as things can now seem to be and as broken as
things, once trusted, truly are, it is not hopeless. God is, in spite of any
of my frustration with God’s timing, well… GOD. God lasts. Each of us
– left on our own with our differences – has an expiration date.
I make the point again. When God is too small in our thinking and
believing then we can actually come to think that God is on our side
and capitalize on our concept of real estate. This is a very big mistake
no matter how proudly, self-righteously or tenaciously we may preach
or otherwise promote it.
As Solomon came to know thousands of years ago, it is better to be in
love with the mystery, magnificence, and awe-inspiring inscrutableness
of the Creator. Do not make God too small. No seasons will last
forever.
God’s action throughout history proves it: in God’s time ALL
differences in life have a way of being worked out.
Because this is true, we can look forward to a time – as a very wise
Solomon did all those millennia ago when…
…the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers have
appeared in the countryside; the season of singing birds has come,
and the cooing of turtledoves is heard in our land. (Song of Solomon
2:11-13).
I trust that God always has, AND ALWAYS WILL, trump all division
with the great power of reconciling love.