Heeding the Voices

1 Samuel 3:1-10; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:35-42

For the past few days many of us have been riveted either to a radio or to a T.V. set, to get an almost blow by blow description of things that have been going on in the Middle East. Indeed, most of us fully expected that soon after last Tuesday, the fifteenth of January, war would break out. And many of us were, no doubt, jolted by the vivid descriptions of the aerial bombardment of Baghdad that was given to us by Bernard Shaw and other CNN reporters who were on the ninth floor of the Baghdad Holiday Inn. As we watch T.V. and see the tapes of the anti-aircraft fire that went up, we have to be amazed that our war planes were able to get any where near their targets. And, what's even more amazing is that Baghdad has not been totally flattened, considering the number of bombs that have been dropped.

On Thursday, as I was watching CNN, pictures of Saddam Hussein came on the screen. At first, the commentator, who was, himself, seeing the pictures for the first time, didn't know what Saddam was doing. But, it soon became apparent that he was praying. Standing upon a prayer rug, facing the holy city of Mecca to the Southwest, Saddam held his hands before him, palms up, his lips forming the words of prayers that he had probably prayed to the Almighty ever since he was a boy. Then Saddam could be seen getting down upon his knees and then bending forward, touching his forehead to the ground. Getting back to his kneeling position, again, Saddam finished his prayer with the traditional gesture of washing the hands and face.

The message was clear. By showing Saddam in communion with Almighty God, called "Allah" in Arabic, Iraqi television was trying to portray a leader who had God is on his side. Indeed, Saddam had already said it several times over the past few months. "God is on our side."

I don't think that it was on purpose that the very next scene that appeared on CNN was a live report of President Bush and others making their way into a church, accompanied by Billy Graham. I thought that it was very ironic that when Graham delivered his sermon he mentioned that we should strive to be on God's side rather than believe that God is on our side. But, perhaps what struck home was this: It seems that when one or both parties in any controversial issue get what they feel are deep assurances that either God is on their side or that they are on the side of God there can be little room for negotiation or compromise.

The truth of the matter that most people don't even think about is that God does not have sides. To say that God has sides, limits God. And God is eternal and infinite. Nor, does God take sides. Instead, God is with all who call upon his name, struggling with us to love our neighbor, striving with us to love our enemy, and contending with us to accept one another with the differences we may have.

It is my own belief that God does not forsake the Iraqi soldier, simply because the American or British soldier may be a Christian. Nor is God with the Iraqi soldier who calls him "Allah" rather than with an American soldier who may not even believe in God at all. For, mysteriously, God speaks to our hearts, in spite of our nationalities, in spite of our religions, and in spite of whose commands we may be following. Indeed, we all remember the words to the hymn: "In Christ there is no East nor West, in him no South nor North."

Having said this, however, I would like to suggest that we are at war, today, for probably quite justifiable, practical, and worldly, but nevertheless, sound reasons, many of which we could easily list. Yet, saying this would not be to deny that the Iraqis and the Palestinians do not also have justifiable, practical, and worldly, but nevertheless, sound reasons for being at war with us, many of which they could easily list.

And this is the tragedy of this war, and of most wars. The reasons seem good enough and justifiable enough while God's support seems to be claimed on every front. Nevertheless, the results are the same no matter what: brave men and women will suffer and die as they fight for these principles; innocent men, women, and children will suffer and die for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time; and valuable resources will be expended upon the things that make for death, rather than upon the things that increase the quality of life for all.

So, where is the voice of God in all of this? Is it in the thunder of 2,000 pound bombs dropped by B-52's or in the thud of SCUD missiles crashing into Tel Aviv? Is God's voice to be heard in the roar of jet engines streaking through the skies over Kuwait or in the blare of air-raid sirens in Jerusalem?

Our Old Testament lesson might offer a clue to us. The little boy, Samuel, sleeping in the Temple, near the ark of the covenant, heard the voice, even though he wasn't sure whose voice it was. Going to the chief priest, Eli, Samuel asked Eli if he had called him, and Eli told him, "No, I haven't called you. Go back to bed!" And this happened three times: Samuel hearing his name called, softly, "Samuel! Samuel!" until Eli finally realized that the Lord was calling the boy and explained it to him, so that when the boy heard his name called the fourth time Samuel answered, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

I believe that this kind of thing happens to us, as well. Sometimes we have heard God's voice speaking to us, and haven't had the wisdom to understand that it was God. And, so, there have been those of us who, in an attempt to answer the call, have given our utmost to things, even to things that may have been important, rather than to the One who called us. For, after all, hearing God's voice is one thing. Interpreting that voice, listening with the heart, and making sense out of what has been heard is something altogether different.

Samuel went to Eli thinking Eli had called him. But when it was all said and done, Eli told him to go back and simply listen to the voice of God speaking to him in the silence of his heart.

In our gospel lesson for today we have an account of how Jesus called his first three disciples. They followed him because they believed that he was the Christ. And when Simon followed him Jesus gave him the name Peter. And, yet, we know that there were thousands of other persons encountering Jesus who simply did not believe. Those who believed, those who were changed, did so because they were listening to the voice of God.

And, so, what is the voice of God saying to us today? Can we hear his still small voice speaking to us in spite of the crash of battle, in spite of the thunder of bombs and the roar of jets? I pray we can.

Coming from my own personal viewpoint, I can't say whether it is God's will for us to be at war. I can't say whether it is right or wrong. What is important, however, is to realize that world events have led us to this time. And I cannot deny that I am a citizen of the world and citizen of this nation, compelled to do those things which for various reasons seem to be necessary and even distasteful. So, as a citizen, I support the decisions of my nation's leaders that have led us to this time, and I support those who have gone forth to battle, trusting that there was no other alternative. And I will support them and love them when they come home, just as I hope and trust that you will.

But, at the same time, as a citizen of heaven, I have to ask how God's voice may be speaking to us through the chaos of it all. And as God's servant I have to listen and pray that I may be used so that God's will may be done.

There will certainly come a day when the war will end, hopefully sooner than later. I truly believe that it will be those who are keenly aware of their heavenly citizenship who will be most suited to pick up the pieces, to begin the work of healing, to start us all upon the long road to reconciliation and understanding, to commence the real work that leads to lasting peace. Amen.