Last Saturday I had the distinct privilege of entertaining two friends from college. Two friends who, being from Texas, know what it is to move to the Northeast without knowing anyone. The plan for the day was to show them Norwalk, eat good food (Valencia’s Venezuelan Beach Food as featured on the Food Network), and lay in the sun, on the sand, by the water, for hours. The CT, however, had other ideas. A drizzly afternoon and a boring city (read Norwalk, CT) led us back to my house where we decided we’d try to grill, eat on the porch, and chat. Something I’m generally not good at.
The conversation topics varied, Jesus was a big one, it was during our Jesus talk that I felt able, for the first time, to put words to a feeling I’ve had for a long time. We Christians, American Christians in particular, are over taught. I love and agree with pastoral care and I think that teaching on Sunday is critical, but between Sunday morning, community groups which emphasize knowledge over action, and the ever growing availability podcasts we have become a people who “listen but cannot hear”.
What I mean is this. I feel that I’ve been taught how to react, understand, and discern truth from the lips of someone else, particularly a pastor but what I was not taught, is how to receive those things from the lips of God. Much of my life, I’ve been inclined to react to a strong sermon, an eloquent argument, or wide diction, but while the living, breathing voice of God goes unnoticed.
I know that I am not the only one with this problem. This discrepency is magnified in so many small groups which watch videos, listen to sermon audio, and discuss theology as opposed to waiting on the move of the Spirit. We, as a people, need to change this. I love pastors, I love teaching, I love the truth they speak. Yet I know their words will not hold a candle to the flame that is discernment through Christ.
Until I learn to hear his voice more consistently, I will continue to miss opportunities to speak truth and change. From now on I want to be taught the sound of his voice, through his Word.
