Finding God’s heart
This week at Silver Creek Presbyterian Church we, along with our friends at Lindale United Methodist, have hosted our annual community Vacation Bible School. We have focused on what we find at the heart of God. In other words, what is dearest to God’s heart and how can we learn to live in a way that mirrors God’s heart.
Our theme song, “God’s Heart,” goes like this:
Gods heart seeks justice God’s heart loves kindness God’s heart likes humility I want God’s heart to be alive in me
Our nightly themes have been: “They were lovely because God loved them.” “God cares how we treat one another.” “When people are treated unjustly, God calls his people to help.”
It seems more important today than at any time in my lifetime to guide children to focus on these characteristics of justice and kindness and humility. Have you read the comment stream in a newspaper or magazine article recently? Or listened to panelists on a news show (whether it’s Fox News or CNN)? Or how Republicans talk about Democrats and Democrats about Republicans? Or how Americans talk about foreigners?
It is rare to come across civil dialogue in any forum today. I’m talking about the kind of conversational thrust and parry that enjoys the formulation of strong, well thought out ideas. The kind of dialogue that appreciates the differences between two people who may disagree strongly on principle but still remain friends and respect one another.
It’s not enough today to say, “I disagree with you and here’s why.” Instead, we label others as stupid or idiots or we affix some other label that demonizes and depersonalizes the other. We strip them of their humanity. Once that’s done, then everything is fair game. We can hate away. We can withhold rights and privileges. We can dish out all the vituperation we’ve got. We can inflict bodily harm. And who cares?
God desires the flourishing of each and every person! Each and every person! Not a select race or ethnic group or any other category you can think of, but each and every person. The Jesus Storybook Bible concludes the creation story with this phrase: “They were lovely because God loved them.” God cares how we treat one another, because he loves each of us.
And when people are treated unjustly, God calls his people to intervene — like Moses. God says to Moses, “I have heard my people’s cry. Now you go tell Pharaoh to let them go! And I will be with you.” We can’t be observers.
I want God’s heart to be alive in me. What about you?