“Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.” – 1 John 3:18-22
My son is finishing up his final year of Middle School. Next Fall he will begin his High School career. Pretty soon I will be forced to acknowledge that I do not, in fact, know everything. I am certain both kids have already discovered this, but the admission will come in the way I help them with homework. I will have to go from teaching how I would get the answer to inviting them to teach me how to find the answer, and then using that understanding to check their answers. I will have to go from being the source of answers to being with them as they refine the questions and seek the sources necessary to develop their answers.
So many of us want to prove that we know the most. We want to have all of the right words, and be able to use them to prove that we are the smartest person in the room. And even more are ready to try to prove themselves smarter than the experts by exploiting any correction of information or development of understanding. We see this frequently, but it has been intensified in the past year of pandemic. For example: this week the CDC will likely update their recommendations on wearing masks while outside and not in large groups. Watch what happens.
I continue the discipline of wearing a mask (except when I am speaking in worship). I do so, not because I have studied all of the research, not because I am afraid of getting in trouble, not because I am the smartest person, not because I worship any one virologist; I do so because it is a very simple action I can take to demonstrate my care for, and commitment to, the people I meet.
God is not afraid of science. God does not hate knowledge. God doesn’t want for us to be ignorant. Still, as important as it is to understand – to have the words – it is even more important to employ that understanding in our actions. Sometimes this means we have to humble ourselves to the truth God reveals through scientific endeavor, even as it continues to develop. We do this so that we can act in this received truth. And this gives us the boldness to act in truth and love. For each of us comes the time when we are forced to acknowledge that we don’t know everything; but there is no limit to God’s love working in and through us as we, in community, learn together.
Humble us, O God, that we might be aware of our own limitations. Then raise us up, O God, on the eagle-wings of your truth and love. Move in us that we can act in mercy, compassion, justice, and love. Help us to follow the example of Jesus, who humbled himself to walk with us, shows us the way of strong and gentle truth in action. As we continue to celebrate his victory over death, help us to continue to grow in grace and wisdom, that we might be your channels of light and life for the world. Amen.
Your questions for Sunday morning’s message:
1. What does it mean for your life that Jesus is the
“Cornerstone.”
2. What seems “out of order” in your world?
3. What do you need in a community of faith?