Wednesday 27 June 2007

We continue with Walter Brueggeman's comments in the chapter "The Fearful Thirst for Dialogue" in "Mandate to Difference."



My simple thesis is that the church - summoned, formed, and empowered by the God of all dialogue - has in our anxiety-driven society an opportunity to be deeply dialogical about the most important issues, dialogical in a way that keeps our judgments penultimate before the holy throne of God.



Brueggemann goes on to cite several stories from scripture that demonstrate the necessity and the power of dialogue (Moses' challenge to YHWH at Mt. Sinai, Jeremiah's complaints about his unbearable prophetic vocation, God in dialogue with Abraham about the fate of Sodom, and...of course, Job).

If we are not willing to face off and attempt to draw one another into conversation about the issues of our day, we will be led along a way that will be much less creative than one that comes out of a good wrestling within an honest dialogue. This is not the easiest thing to begin or enter or end. And yet, the church must call us out of our self-indulgent world view and begin to take a look at the many sides of these issues. When we do not take on such a discipline of dialogue, we will become overruled by one-sided powers who demand that life must be lived in one way...that's it! This takes us back to how silence allows those who think they have the power to speak for all go ahead and do their thing. We are being called on to speak and not be silent. In addition, though, we are to make sure that we also listen. That is the best form of dialogue. If we do not speak up, who will bring to the table our side or our views? Who will speak up with and for those who have no power? Who will be the advocate against the powers of life. Even God needed someone to step up and speak up so that in all God's power and might, there would be an opportunity to exercise that grand mercy that we say is a vital part of our God. The smallest voice needs to speak up for none of us know what will transpire when more voices are added to the conversations of our lives.



Connection: We may not do it eloquently, but we must insist on dialogue within this day. That may mean speaking up and it may mean asking those who have not spoken to speak up and help us all find our way through these days....together.



Lord of All Possibilities, we are so quick to bring things to conclusion and insist that nothing new can be added to our world. And yet, you invite us to speak and wrestle and demand that all your people be given a voice in our life together in your name. Continue to move us and shape us and give us courage. Amen.