divine pursuit

1997-01-23·Sermon·Psalm 139:1-12; Luke 15:1-10

JOHN CARMODY WAS AT LOGIAN WHO WROTE

ELOQUENTLY AND HONESTLY. {HIS LAST BOOKS WERE

ABOUT HIS STRUGGLE WITH TERMINAL ILLNESS INA
Patron aaa Fr ae aoa a

LITTLE VOLUME] PSALMS BOR TIMES OF TROUBLE.) HE

HAD WRITTEN ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING

“BATTERED” BY CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIATION,

aes Ba reer eerie |

SLUMPING ON A STOOL IN A HOSPITAL EXAMINING

room “FEELING BLACK AND BLUE AND GREEN’ /AND

ASKING,

: “WHAT MORE CAN | DO?} IS IT NOT ENOUGH
eR a,

' THAT | AM DYING? in THE END WE FLEE FROM

OURSELVES ...” [p. 111]

“WHERE CAN | GO FROM YOUR SPIRIT?” rue
QoS eee!

PSALMIST ASK ASKED. Cox WHERE CAN | FLEE FROM YOUR
re

PRESENCE?”

‘lE |

IT iS A STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL PSALM.

ASCEND TO HEAVEN, YOU ARE THERE; I | MAKE MY BED

=e rw. | TAKE THE WINGS OF

THE MORNING AND SETTLE AT THE FARTHEST LIMITS OF
a ek a Te

THE SEA, EVEN THERE YOUR HAND SHALL LEAD ME,...”

WHAT AN INTRIGUING suacesmon rag THERE

ARE TIMES WHEN YOU AND | RUN AWAY\- EVEN FROM

GOD.} AND WHAT A RADICALLY DIFFERENT IDEA OF

GOD THAT 1S!/ GOD - THE SEEKER: | GOD ~ THE ONE
eer

WHO PURSUES TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH AND
‘ so

Pe onl

BEYOND:

GOD — THE ONE FROM WHOM THERE IS NO
eases rOr tae

ULTIMATE ESCAPE:

GOD ~ STRONG ARM TO HOLD US AND KEEP US FROM

rauune:| Goo ~ rie HouND OF Heaven,) FRANCIS
‘Wirmprsiucnimege een

THOMPSON WROTE IN A FAMOUS POEM, WHOSE
Sse

FOOTSTEPS FOLLOW AND TRACK DOWN THE ONE

FLEEING IN FINAL BEAUTIFUL LAUGHTER. ~ =

c A STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT IDEA OF Gop!

,
rd

IS CONJURED-UP_BY THE FERTILEIMAGINATION OF

For Ha requ — Wmuuband Omiues up ¢ FA
wh 15 reake) ply | pheemaiotty jarely

a rely is AL wee VUuasan Parsy > be
Mrs ++ COmdsourd ~ LL sarle

YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THAT GOD IN MUCH
RELIGION, ANCIENT AND‘MODERN. ISRAEL NEVER QUITE

roe

GREW OUT OF THAT GoD, OR HAS CONTEMPORARY

vA
CHRISTIANITY MY GUESS iS THAT. THIS GOD, OR
cs

f
SOMETHING VERY CLOSE, LIVES SOMEWHERE DEEP IN

YOURAPIRIT, TOO.

S WHAT A RADICAL worion rane GOD DOESN’T
Pa . :

WAIT R US TO DO ANYTHING, [Te-suRN-AROUNB-AND
sgemomenccsceand

WE - BUTKCOMES-AFTER US. | WHAT A RADICAL

IDEA THAT GOD FOLLOWS US WHEREVER WEGO, 9 ==="

TD.
ae
Ginn WHEN OUR GOING HAS SOMETHING TO
arene qa

DO WITH A FLIGHT FROM coo NOBODY MUCH THINKS
RTE ey eS

OF GOD IN THOSE TERMS.

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A MAN WHO DID.
ES

JESUS NOT ONLY THOUGHT THAT WAY ABOUT GOD, HE
qa

LIVED HIS LIFE INTENTIONALLY TO REFLECT THAT

eet

RADICAL THEOLOGY.

IT HAPPENED FAIRLY REGULARLY, APPARENTLY. |

E ATE WITH TAX COLLECTORS AND SINNERS \ HE

On at ert ieee od —

INCLUDED IN HIS VERSION OF THE HUMAN COMMUNITY
SEE Ee ere

THOSE HIS RELIGION EXCLUDED AND WHO WERE

REGARDED AS UTTERLY LOST.\"FMtey -Swiners, TAX

Callecdrrs .

He waswh swt cordiet A flr

PH — IN A CULTURE

THAT ASSIGNS GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TO TABLE

reusowsti\ THAT CULTURE, TO BREAK BREAD WITH

ANOTHER IS TO EXTEND HONOR, PEACE, FRIENDSHIP.

IS NOT HOPPINCNUP ON A STOOL AT A FAST. FOOD

ESTABLISHMENT AND IN A CROWD OF HUNDREDS,

EATING IN ABSOLUTE ISOLATION. HOSRITALITY IS

THEOLOGICALEY, SOCIQLOGICALLY AND POLWICALLY

AT THE CONCLUSION OF A TOUR OF A SCHOOL IN
oe

A PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMP OUTSIDE OF BETHLEHEM
eS eros

ag, RUNNING ABOUT AN HOUR BEHIND

OUR VERY AMBITIOUS SCHEDULE, WE WERE MET BY AN

ELDERLY PALESTINIAN WOMAN IN A LONG DARK
Sener,

canwen, HOLDIN A TRAY OF SMALL GLASSES OF A

STEAMING, DARK LIQUID WHICH TURNED OUT TO BEA

VERY SWEET re ‘FHE TEMPERATURE IN THE ROOM WAS
Skreet inert al

AT LEAST 96DEGREES./ HOT, SWEET TEA WAS NOT
ec nl

WHAT WE HAD IN minp.\ WHat WE.HAD IN MIND WAS

wor

FINDING OUR BUS AND GETTING OUT OF THERE! lr

FIRST FEW AMERICANS SAID A POLITE “NO THANK YOU ”)

AND WALKED ON.} | OBSERVED THAT THE LOOK ON HER

Poe Fe

TO HuRr| SOMETHING MORE THAN HOT TEA WAS BEING

REJECTED, FORTUNATELY, SOME OF OUR MEMBERS
eae eee

UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS GOING ON AND sao

COURSE, iow LOVELY, HOW VERY THOUGHTFUL — WE’D

ALL LOVE SOME, WOULDN’T we?"s AND SHE BEAMED

AND EXTENDED THE TRAY AND SOMETHING IMPORTANT

TRANSPIRED BETWEEN A PALESTINIAN MUSLIM WOMAN

AND A GROUP OF AMERICAN PRESBYTERIANS.

ere

Cau yu NEW TESTAMENT SCHOLARS AGREE THAT

THIS IS NOT CASUAL, COINCIDENTAL BEHAVIOR ON
Set

Jesus’ PART.4 IN SITTING AT TABLE WITH SINNERS AND

TAX COLLECTORS HE IS INTENTIONALLY ACTING OUT

THE REALITY.QF GOD’S LOVE,|DEMONSTRATING GOD’S

HOPE FOR HUMANKIND, AND MODELING HOW GOD’S
5 are eraser ee

PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE ACTING.

BUT NOT EVERYBODY, LIKES WHAT HE IS DOING.
IT CHALLENGES THEM — THEIR DEEPEST RELIGIOUS
CONVICTIONS, THEIR SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
ASsuMPTIONS.\ PHARISES AND SCRIBES GRUMBLE

BECAUSE OF THE COMPANY JESUS IS «eePinc| AND SO

HE TELLS THEM A SEQUENCE OF WONDERFUL STORIES ...

cmamaaittin

: e ABOUW'A SHEPHERD WHO LEAVES NINETY NINE SHEEP

pee

ees . IN THE WILDERNESS T TO GO AFTER ONE WHO IS LOST,

ee WHEN iE FINDA, THE LOST SHEEP, LAYS IT

ON HIS SHOULDERS, PHYSICALLY CARRIES IT HOME

ee rE Pani

TO THE VILLAGE AND CALLS THE COMMUNITY

TOGETHER FOR A CECEBRATION?

« ABOUT a Woman Ho HAS TEN COINS AND WHEN

Da TY

SHE LOSES ONE, TURNS HER HOUSE INSIDE OUT UNTIL

Ero,

SHE FINDS |S TOO CALLS IN THE NEIGHBORS

FOR A CELEBRATION.

ener a TUTE
FAMILIAR, BELOVED STORIES, BUT ACTUALLY
QUITE PECULIAR. FOR ONE-THING, SHEPHERDS ARE
AMONG THE Lost... WOMEN ARE SECOND-—CLASS
CITIZENS AT'BEST. HE SEEMS TO BE LEADING UP TO

”

i AND NOW THE PHARISEES AND SCRIBES ARE

p——
SQHIRMING ANB-GEAGFING-ANGRY.1 NOTICE THE

SURPRISING INTERNAL ACTION. [THe LOST SHEEP ISN’T
RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING vost. \ Te COIN DIDN’T GET

ITSELF LOST.

BOTH ARE FOUND,/RECO ERED, RESTORED ~ IN
THE SHEEP’S CASE, PHYSICALLY BORNE ON THE STRONG

SHOULDERS OF THE SHEPHIERD/ PHYSICALLY CARRIED BY

ONE WHO IS ABSOLUTELY DETERMINER,AND WILL NOT

STOP SEARCHING UNTIL WHAT IS LOST IS FOUND.

Paeereyep eee

“THERE IS JOYIN VEN OVER ONE SINNER WHO
Pa
REPENTS|” JESUS TELLS TH SQUIRMING PHARISEES AND

a
cag

SCRIBES. WHAT DO YOU aro THAT MEANT? THe

LOST SHEEP DIDN’T REPENT. ‘it WAS EEN “THE COIN
rs

ait

DIDN’T TURN —" ON ITS OWN voumon/| ‘it WAS FOUND

f a — OMAN. / JESUS IS wort”
/ Jesus , ee 8
-€ é> ‘ae

od -

PROPOSING HERE A RADICAL NOTION OF GOD WHICH ~ Ae
ds Ws Ores F
WAS BRAND NEWS'AND STILL IS: } GOD THE PURSUER, Oe od

GOD THE ARDENT LOVER: | GOD, NOT THE MYSTICAL

eee eee Sey mesa

PRESENCE WAITING FOR US TO BREAK THE SILENCE, /BUT

a Yel

ee,

PRECISELY THE ONE WHO COMES AFTER us) HUNTS U US

DOWN, FINDS US AND BRINGS US HoMe.\ AND ITISA
rey

——,, =——_. Er te eee

BRAND NEW NOTION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FAITHFUL

a eereeeinienmeienamnnaaalaiiahals

TO THAT Goo:| NOTION THAT HAS A LOT LESS TO DO
sa asa De

WITH PURITY AND MORE TO DO WITH INCLUSIVE LOVE
er oe,

eS oe

THAN ANYONE THOUGHT, OR FOR THAT MATTER WANTS
C eueiiaiaiinenie re

C TO THINK unk ToDAY,)

eee eid

Vie Line
DONALD MCCULLOGH, IN AWW BOOK, THE

TRIVIALIZATION OF GOD, TELLS A WONDERFUL STORY

ABOUT JOHN MACKIE EAD OF THE CHURCH OF

SCOTLAND AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR,| AND ONE
ness senate

OF THE LEADERS OF Lid NEW WorLD COUNCIL OF

ein a EEE

CHURCHES WHO WAS VISITING A REMOTE PART OF THE

BALKAN PENINSULA IN THE DAYS AFTER THE WAR TO SEE

pemtrmergn teee

HOw W WorRLD COUNCIL. RELIEF MONEY WAS: BEING SPENT.

HIS TRAVELING COMPANIONS WERE TWO MEMBERS OF A
ih aiieiaaieed

em,

“RATHER SEVERE AND PIOUS DENOMINATION.”
ee,

“)

ony

“ONE AFTERNOON Dr. MACKIE AND THE

TWO OTHER CLERGYMEN WENT TO CALL ON

eee,

THE ORTHODOX PRIEST IN A SMALL GREEK

pare tein YE

VILLAGE. |THE PRIEST WAS OVERJOYED TO

SEE THEM AND EAGER TO PAY HIS RESPECTS.
—, SO,

IMMEDIATELY HE PRODUCED A BOX OF

——

HAVANA CIGARS GREAT TREASURE IN
THOSE DAYS, AND OFFERED EACH OF HIS

GUESTS A CIGAR. \DR. MACKIE TOOK ONE,

Denia A

BIT THE END or ur rT \PUFEED AND SAID
Re, So as ky

HOW GOOD IT was.\ TH OTHER TWO

LOOKED HORRIFIED AND SAID, ‘WE DON’T

swoxs\

Crean HE HAD SOMEHOW OFFENDED

THE TWO, THE PRIEST WAS ANXIOUS TO

MAKE aqenns.|S0 HE EXCUSED HIMSELF

AND REAPPEARED IN A FEW MINUTES WITH A

BOTTLE OF HIS cuoicest wine Dr.

MACKIE SNIFFED IT LIKE A CONNOISSEUR,

eE,, za

SIPPED IT AND PRAISED ITS quauity| AND

ASKED FOR ANOTHER cuass.\ His

COMPANIONS DREW THEMSELVES BACK EVEN

‘
MORE NOTICEABLY AND SAID, tno, THANK

vou.| We DON’T DRINK.’

“LATER, MAKING THEIR WAY OUT OF THE
er,

VILLAGE THE TWO PIOUS CLERGYMEN

TURNED ON br, Mace. | ‘Do YOU MEAN

TO TELL US THAT YOU ARE THE HEAD OF

THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND AND AN
Pitre

OFFICER IN THE WORLD CHURCH COUNCIL

AND YOU SMOKE AND paun?'| MacKr's

SCOTTISH TEMPER GOT THE BEST OF HIM.

aero ee egy,

‘NO, DAMN IT, I DON’T SMOKE OR DRINK,’

HE SAID. [BUT SOMEBODY,HAD TO ACT LIKE

Dt al ta iS

A CHRISTIAN BACK THERE.’ "I [P. 36-37]

ty JESUS REACHED OUT TO INCLUDE IN HIS CIRCLE OF

COMPANIONS AND FRIENDS PRECISELY THOSE WHO

ORGANIZED, INSTITUTIONAL RELIGION DECIDED WERE

LOST AND THEREFORE EXPENDABLE AND psciupen.\As

THE CHURCHES IN OUR LAND DEFINE THEMSELVES FOR

MINISTRY AND MISSION IN THE NEXT CENTURY, HIS

oseiniehdiieitaiademminiens icimeeeibidnal

STRONG CHALLENGE, Hl REBUKE TO WELL—MEANING
GUARDIANS OF PURITY, MORALITY AND ORTHODOXY,

ONE HOPES, WILL BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION,

Fe eateiiimes

WHEN THE PHARISEES AND SCRIBES LOOKED AT
a aadaniiiinienll ee ee

THEIR WORLD AND THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM, THEY

SAW TWO TYPES — THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE SINNERS.

WHEN JESUS LOOKED AROUND HE SAW THE LOST AND
hein intel

THE FOUND.

IT IS A POWERFUL AND RELEVANT CULTURAL

. 71 ogee

are arene pn

MOTIF LOSTNESS IS.” THERE Ai ‘EK LOT OE WAVE ae

BECOME LOST. THE GREAT racobocia, PAUL

TILLICH, TAUGHT THAT DEEP mee OF US IS AN

AVERSION TO ‘Gop. THE GOD WHO r REALLY GOD.

wl san TO BE KNOWN FULLY?” Puce ASKED.

HUMAN BEINGS CAN’T STAND GOD. GOD KNOWS TOO

MUCH, SEES TOO MUCH.

MODERN AUTHOR, ANNIE DILLARD AGREES —
“THE SOUL MAY ASK GOD FOR ANYTHING: FOR GOD’S
PRESENCE, For WISDOM ... OR YOU MAY ASK GOD IN
THE WO bs OF THE SHOPKEEPERS’ LITTLE SIGN, THAT HE

NOT GO AWAY MAD, BUT JUST GO AWAY.” [TEACHING A

STONE TO TALK, P. 97]

f
i

FOUFFEEGEOSER TO HOME, lone OF THE MOST
3
CONSISTENT THEMES IN OUR CULTURE’S MUSIC, ROCK

AND RAP, IS SOLATION,| LONELINESS, ALIENATION, LOSTNES >.
=e —_—

pire

SOMETIMES LOSTNESS HAPPENS BECAUSE
Dons

SOMEBODY ELSE DID THE vosna.| FOR MORE THAN

bed

200 YEARS THIS CULTURE HAS TOLD BLACK PEOPLE,
Prac

BLACK MEN PARTICULARLY,\ THAT THEY WERE NOT PART
Lea]

OF THE COMMUNITY.\ FOR TWO CENTURIES LAWS AND

qe :

CUSTOM AND TRADITION HAVE EXCLULDED_A PORTION OF

OUR POPULATION ON THE BASIS OF race] PART OF THE
or

RESULT WE ARE NOW REAPING IS LOSS OF IDENTITY,

eel

LACK OF SELF-ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE ANGER, RAGE

na i cca lr

IF A MILLION:B
FIND SOMETHING OF THEIR IDENTITY, IT IS A

PREDEMPTIVE MOMENT, FULL OF PROMISE.

SOMETIMES LOSTNESS OCCURS WHEN PARENTS

LOSE THEIR CHILDREN\ IN NEGLECT, PHYSICAL
SeQthierei=s,. - -

eestor ee

VIOLENCE, \SEXUAL asuse:| OR WHEN ADULT. MEN, ABUSE

WOMEN | eaving VICTIMS WITH PHYSICAL SCARS AND
Pl Dita ata al

DEEP SPIRITUAL WOUNDS THAT FEEL LIKE ALONENESS
ow be eer

AND LOSTNESS.

AND ALWAYS ILLNESS pa, SUFFERING ARE

EXPERIENCED AS PERSONAL ISOLATION. | PROFESSOR

CARMODY, WeRGseiReiagas WEEK, WROTE,

“THE CHILD COMES TO ME CRYING,
F mmmmniieiaedl

HOLDING OUT HIS ARMS TO BE LIFTED UP.

HOw OFTEN | COME TO YOU THAT WAY,
THOUGH | DON’T EVEN REALIZE IT.
| FEEL LIKE AN ORPHAN OUT ON MY OWN ...

ALONE.”

WE PRIM AND PROPER PRESBYTERIANS SOMETIMES

FIND THE IDEA OF BEING HELD BY GOD A LITTLE TOO

PHYSICAL, TOO PERSONAL, [TOO wrimare| | AM

Se een

REMINDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE SHEPHERD IN JESUS’
emmcnemen ER tere net a

STORY, WHEN HE FINDS THE LOST SHEEP, DOESN’T
ESS

SIMPLY INVITE IT TO RETURN, DOESN'T PLEAD|CAJOLE,

URGE}- BUT SIMPLY, ELEGANTLY, STOOPS DOWN AND

———

PICKS IT US AND PLACES IT ON HIS SHOULDERS AND

CARRIES IT HOME.

THERE ARE STRONGLY PHYSICAL IMAGES IN THAT

MARVELOUS Psauwor BEING HEMMED IN —

SURROUNDED \ HELD IN GOD’S ARMS| OF GOD’S RIGHT
tei BET emg

HAND HOLDING US FAST WHICH MEANS, LITERALLY, AN

=—_" rs,

ARM AROUND us{ Howoine US UP, STEADYING OUR
STEP, KEEPING US FROM FALLING.

Fad =

1 WAS SITTING IN MY FAVORITE CHAIR, LISTENING
iat a eit Gee

TO ONE OF MY FAVORITE SINGERS AA WONDERFUL
Dal

ees

WOMAN I| HAVE LOVED FOR 35 YEARS SHE SINGS JAZZ,
BLUES, IMPROVISATION, BIG BAND. \vex NAME IS NANCY
WILSON.| WHEN NANCY WILSON SINGS ABOUT LOVE

SHE GETS MY ATTENTION.

So I WAS LISTENING Your ARMS OF Love,”

pre

WHICH | HAVE HEARD MANY rimes THe LAST SONG ON

A COMPACT DISC WITH THE SIMPLE TITLE, Love,

NANCY.” { BUT FOR SOME REASON, I LISTENED CLOSELY

TO THE LYRICS.

“PLEASE HOLD ME IN YOUR ARMS, YOU

KNOW. THE TRUTH,\I DON’T HAVE THE

RIGHT TO COME AND SAY, PLEASE HOLD ME
ne =

<q SO FAR, SO GOOD!

“YOUR ARMS OF LOVE, RELIEVE THE PAIN,
Fed

YOUR ARMS | NEED AGAIN.”

— re

WHO DOESN’T LIKE TO HEAR THAT? )
SRC emerge

“SO IF YOU WILL, LOOK PAST MY FAULTS,

TAKE HOLD OF MY HAND PLEASE HOLD ME

_ ree,

IN YOUR ARMS.”
—

AND THEN SHE SANG,

eel

“| KNOW HE CAN HE KNOWS THE FACTS

AND SOMEHOW STILL UNDERSTANDS Gob

WANTS TO HOLD YOU IN HIS ARMS.”

AND AS THE BACKGROUND JAZZ SINGERS

MODULATE GORGEOUSLY FROM WHAT | THQUGHT WAS A

SENSUOUS TORGH SONG INTO GOSPEL, NANCY SINGS,

[ “THE LOVE OF JESUS ..1 | WANT YOU TO

HOLD ME, JESUS \ HOLD ME IN YOUR
ee,
ARMS.” |

IN SOME WAY, IN SOME PLACE IN YOUR HEART, AT

SOME STAGE IN THE JOURNEY OF YOUR LIFE, jou AND |

EXPERIENCE LOSTNESS \ EXPERIENCE THE TRUTH OF THE
ental ooo

ANCIENT PROPHET & “ALL WE LIKE SHEEP HAVE GONE
asreay.)

WHATEVER THAT IS FOR you, [iN WHATEVER WAY
i a a al

YOU ARE LOST,\BECAUSE OF YOUR RACE, BECAUSE OF

SOMETHING SOMEONE DID TO vou,| BECAUSE OF

SOMETHING YOU HAVE DONE, \BECAUSE OF SOMETHING

oon

YOU PERCEIVE THAT YOU ARE AND SOCIETY CONFIRMS

THAT JUDGMENT cave YOU ARE IN SOME WAY ON
—_ ea a |
THE RUN — FROM ure |rnom vouse.r] FROM GOD,
ee all a
PLEASE KNOW THAT THERE IS ONE WHO SEARCHES FOR

vou, \rHERE ARE STRONG ARMS TO HOLD YOU, \riere 1S

LIGHT FOR YOUR paRKness), THERE IS ONE WHO WILL

/
l/ hatve Yo WE

fiw oe clan |
Dlease ean

SEEK YOU, eva.enou,|e BRING YOU HOME AT
Se eesl ede

LAST.

Re we

DEAR GOD, HOW OFTEN WE HAVE STRAYED, FROM OUR
OWN ASPIRATIONS FOR curses |rtom THE LOVE

AND EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS, |FROM YOUR

CONFIDENCE IN US AND CALL TO US. \ WE GivVE FHANKS
FOR YOUR PATIENCE, FOR YOUR PURSUIT OF US, AND
nl

FOR THE BLESSED PROMISE THAT THERE 1S NOWHERE WE

CAN FLEE THAT REMOVES US FROM YOUR LOVE. AMEN.

DIVINE PURSUIT
JOHN M. BUCHANAN

SCRIPTURE:
PSALM 139:1-12
LUKE 15:1-10
“WHERE CAN | GO FROM YOUR SPIRIT? OR WHERE CAN- re
FLEE FROM YOUR PRESENCE?” ;
PSALM 139:7 (NRSV)

" EVER OCCURRED TO YOU TO RUN. AWAY -

FROM LIFE, FRQM YOUR OVERWHELMING COMMITMENTS,

FROM THE FATE YOU-HAVE BEEN HANDED, FROM

HUMAN BEINGS 1S SHROUDED IN PRIMAL MYSTERY, —_- “
SURBOUNBCE-OH-CELESTIAE-CLORY; PROTECTED: BYe
“TEGIONS"OF ANGELS. FROM THE BEGIN NING, HUMAN
IMAGINATION HAS PROPOSED A Gop oF UTTER MORAL
PURITY WHO MAY CONDESCEND TO'HAVE TO DO WITH
HUMAN BEINGS INSOFAR AS THEY PLACATE GOD’S UTTER
HOLINESS AND PURITY, MAKE THEMSELVES ACCEPTABLE

BY OFFERING SACRIFICES ON THE ALTAR?) CQWS"AND

GO®TS-AND-LAMBS"AND-PIGEONS-AND-DOVES"AND EVEN
(

FPHEIR-OWN- FIRST nfo MAKE THEMSELVES CLEAN

FOR Gop’s we HOLINESS BY PURIFYING AND

PURGING IN RITUAL BATHS, SCOURGING, FASTING,

DENYING THEIR OWN NEEDS AND DESIRES, STARING INTO

THE SUN, SITTING ON STONE PILLARS IN THE beséer,
STARVING, LYING ON BEDS OF NAILS, RETREATING TO
CAVES AND MONASTERIES TO LIVE CELIBATE, LONELY
LIVES. FROM THE BEGINNING, HUMAN IMAGINATION
HAS COME UP WITH A REMOTE DEITY, HIDDEN IN
MYSTERY, SEPARATED FROM MORTALS BY ABSOLUTE
PURITY, GoD oA MIGHTY THRONE, OR JUDGMENT
SEAT, arms TIGHTLY FOLDED, FISTS CLENCHED,
WAITING, FOR THE SUPPLICANT TO DO WHATEVER THE

RELIG dusts SAY MUST BE DONE TO BREAK THE ICE, TO

INUCE A DIVINE SMILE, OR AT LEAST A LITTLE LESS

RATH, TO GET A LITTLE PIECE OF SALVATION, GRACE,

HEAVEN.

COLLECTORS — HAD NOT DONE WHAT IT IS NECESSARY

FOR ANY PERSON TO DO TO BREAK THE ICE WITH Goo. )
, _—_—__

SINNERS WERE ESSEN va POOR PEOPLE WHO WERE /

TOO BUSY TRYING, 40 FIGURE OUT WHERE THE NEXT

MEAL WAS coMIN FROM TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE

RULES AND RITUALS OF RELIGION. Tax COLLECTORS

HAD SOLD THEIR SOULS TO THE’ Warep GENTILE

”

OCCUPYING ARMY, EXTRACTING TAXES FROM THEIR
COUNTRYMEN TO PAY FOR ROME’S EXTRAVAGANT
BUILDING PROJEZTS, HEROD’S PALACES, FORTRESSES

AND TEMPLES.

WHO WANTS A GOD FROM WHOM WE HAVE NO SECRETS, -

WHO IS PRESENT EVERYWHERE WE GO AND WHO SEES

INTO THE RECESSES OF OUR HEARTS?

“IT 1S SAFE TO SAY THAT A (PERSON) WHO HAS
NEVER TRIED TO FLEE GOD HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED THE
GOD WHO IS REALLY GoD.” [7HE SHAKING OF THE
FOUNDATIONS, P. 44

vA
vA
THE pe FREDERICK NIETZSCHE,

DESPISEDA_HRISTIANITY, BUT AT LEAST HE UNDERSTOOD

UES. IN ONE OF HIS NOVELS, GOD IS MURDERED:

LOSTNESS. IN DIANE KEATON’S FINE NEW MOVIE
“UNSTRUNG HEROES,” A LITTLE BOY IS GROWING uP
TRYING TO COPE WITH AN ECCENTRIC FATHER WHO IS
OBSESSED WITH SCIENCE, HAS NO TIME FOR RELIGION,
WHICH HE CALLS A CRUTCH, AND SPENDS HIS LIFE IN
THE ATTIC WORKING ON INVENTIONS AND NEVER
CONNECTS WITH HIS SON, AND HIS BEAUTIFUL AND
UNDERSTANDING MOTHER WHO IS DYING. HE RUNS
AWAY TO TWO VERY PECULIAR BACHELOR UNCLES WHO
LIVE LIKE JERMITS IN A CLUTTERED CHEAP HOTEL AND
THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS IS THE JEWISH PRAYER

OF A,FHANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE. BEFORE LONG, HE IS

BEING BAR MITZVAH’D.

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Original file: Sermons/1997/012397 divine pursuit.pdf

John M. Buchanan

divine pursuit