It is not possible to prove the existence of God. But, come to think of it, existence itself is not ultimately a very interesting phenomenon. The existence of that person sitting next to you is not nearly as interesting as who he or she is; your beloved perhaps, a friend, a neighbor, an acquaintance, a total stranger. It is what and who you are in relationship that starts to get interesting. And so with the matter of God; existence is not nearly as interesting nor important as relationship. And what the Bible says, from the first page to the last, is that not only is a relationship with God possible, but it is the most important, most fundamental issue for each one of us. We can discuss and argue about the existence of God, and it can remain a remote and safe distraction, which is why, perhaps, the Bible nowhere tries to do it. It is an altogether different matter to reach out to God, to be open to God, to talk with God, to listen for God, to respond to God, to lean on God, to bet on God, to trust God, to live in the glorious freedom of God’s grace and love.

That is what our religion is about; not an abstract thesis about God’s existence, but life lived in the world God made, in community, or relationship—life cherished because it is God’s gift to us and lived out in passion and joy and commitment because it is lived with God.

John M. Buchanan

September 27, 1998

Full Sermon

https://www.fourthchurch.org/sermons/1998/092798.html