During the Bible study/book study last Sunday, we were looking at Exodus 3:1-15, where God speaks to Moses through the burning bush. One person pointed out this section, “The word was not just for Moses; it was for Israel. And not just for Israel, but for the world.” As we talked about it, I said something along the lines of this: “There is no place in the Bible where it’s all about ‘God and me’. God always sends us out to interact with others.”
While it is true that Jesus would sometimes go off by himself to pray, it was always for the sake of preparing to interact with others. And you may recall that there is more than one time when Jesus was trying to get away to pray, but got interrupted by people and responded to those interruptions. Also, at what might have been the most intense prayer between Jesus and the Father, at the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked his disciples to keep watch, to be with him.
The Bible is not big on telling stories about individuals doing stuff by themselves. Instead, we see families and tribes, communities and partnerships. Yes, there are different roles for different individuals, but the individuals do not act alone. Abraham had Sarah and his nephew Lot and his family. Moses had Aaron and Miriam. And he had his father-in-law Jethro, who suggested that he get even more leaders involved (Exodus 18:13-26). When the people wanted to have a king so that they could be like everyone else, God consented; but then God also made sure there were prophets to help provide balance to the power of the king. When the prophet Elijah was in despair and felt all alone, God reminded him that there were others (1 Kings 19:13-16). Jesus called his disciples. The apostles went out in pairs or small groups.
Indeed, the places in the Bible where we see things getting off track tend to involve people doing things on their own, or perhaps even in secret. Remember the story of David and Bathsheba? Or when Joseph wanted to be superior over his brothers instead of in relationship with them? Or when the first king, Saul, decided he didn’t need to wait to consult the priests? And then there was Judas. Perhaps Judas got it into his head that he just needed to give Jesus a little push to get him to finally publicly claim the role of Messiah. That turned out well for him, didn’t it?
God calls us to be in relationship with each other, to work together, to serve together. You will be calling a new pastor, eventually. This pastor will be someone who will be a partner in your mission and ministry. They will have a unique role. They will have authority over some things, but that authority has been granted to pastors through the people of the church itself. In the ELCA, no person can just declare that they are a pastor and start exercising the pastoral authority! The pastor will be called for the sake of the whole congregation and will need the whole congregation. The pastor will not do all things nor solve all things; the pastor will be your advisor, counselor, companion, guide, encourager.
The pastor will be called for the sake of the whole congregation, so that the whole congregation can serve the community as God calls it to serve. We are each called by God to be in relationships with others, to love others. And that is how we love God: by loving others.
Peace,
Pastor Sue
