The Question and Call of God

Recovery takes time. It cannot be speeded up. We are waiting for Monday’s visit to the surgeon and the OK to return to Zambia. Each morning we share devotions. In the evenings we play cards and read books. I have just finished the inspiring Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. Bonhoeffer’s impressions of American religious life in 1930, seem prophetically relevant for today, 82 years later. “In the conflict between determination for truth with all of its consequences and the will for community, the latter prevails. This is characteristic of all American thought, particularly as I have observed it in theology and the church, they do not see the radical claim of truth on the shaping of their lives. Community is therefore founded less on truth than on the spirit of fairness.” According to Metaxas, as Bonhoeffer reflected on the American church scene he was fascinated that “tolerance trumped truth.” It was fascinating to read about the birth of the Confessing Church which came about in response to the “bastardized theology…coming from the German church” and which chose to repudiate “anti-Semitism and other heresies of the German Christians and their “official” church.” I am reminded of the struggle the PCUSA faces today as some are leaving the denomination and others are forming groups such as the ECO (Evangelical Covenant Order) as they try to work out how to respond to tolerance and fairness trumping the Word of God.

“Who stands fast? Only the man whose final standard is not his reason, his principles, his conscience, his freedom, or his virtue, but who is ready to sacrifice all this when he is called to obedient and responsible action in faith and in exclusive allegiance to God-the responsible man, who tries to make his whole life an answer to the question and call of God.”-Bonhoeffer

What is the Question and Call of God today? To Adam and Eve God asked “Where are you?” to Cain he questioned “Where is your brother?” to Peter Jesus queried “Who do you say that I am?” and later “Do you truly love me?” to Paul he inquired “Why do you persecute me?”  What question is God asking each of us? Is it one of these questions or something else? What if we made our lives an answer to the question and call of God?