"On 'Knowing' the Only True God"

Sermon preached by John C. Hall on May 4, 2008

Text ­ John 17:1-5

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, ²since you have given him authority over all people,^* to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. ⁵So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

Have you ever had religion used on you like a club or a threat?  Have you ever had someone try to get certain words to come out of your mouth, like “I accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior” with the idea that if you didn’t say those words, you’d go to hell?

This phenomenon comes to mind with this phrase, to “know the only true God.”  As in,  “We’re saved because we know the only true God” — unlike those other people who only know false gods, non-gods. So they’re lost.  But we have eternal life.”

People who have that attitude search through the Bible and will find specific verses to support that view. We’ve all run into this. You may think that I’m immune from these assaults because I’m a minister.  I’m not immune. I’ve been cornered, and worked on, just like everyone else. Maybe more. When some people find out I’m a minister, they seem to feel that I’m ripe for conversion to the “true faith.”

On one level, on the level of anthropology, I do find it interesting that people want to do that, or feel compelled to act this way. It’s kind of fascinating — this obsession or drive to get other people to adopt your beliefs.

But the fascination only kicks in later. While someone is trying to convert me to their concept of the  “only true God” I try to end conversation, or change the subject, or leave. It’s awkward. I don’t want to tell people they’re being rude, and it’s not as if this is a huge problem on the personal level.

But this isn’t just an irritation on the personal level. It has to do with living in a religiously pluralistic and respectful civil society.

Recently, there was the National Day of Prayer at the flagpole at the City Hall with the Mayor.  This event is advertised as “A day for people of all faiths to pray for our nation,” but what these events turn out to be are rallies for conservative, right-wing Christians.  To be a “volunteer coordinator” for one of these events, you have to agree to a statement of belief that begins: “I believe that the Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of the Living God. (That means that the Bible has no errors or misconceptions of even a factual nature.) I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the only One by which I can obtain salvation…”

Is that approach, that “I have the truth; I believe in the only true God and other people are deluded, and damned” — is that the spirit that we find in the words and actions of Jesus on the whole?  Look at all the gospels, all the stories, all the sayings of Jesus.  Is that the overarching message? I don’t see Jesus beating people into religious submission. I don’t see him trying to get people to say certain magical words.

I do see him putting down hypocrites, and nit-pickers, and people with callous hearts. I see him presenting some stark choices.  I see him saying there are consequences for the lives we lead and the choices we make. That’s in there.

But Jesus isn’t a religious bully. In Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer he is praying for people who are already his followers.  He’s praying for the church. He’s praying that they will find that same relationship to God and responsiveness to God, that he had. That’s what this prayer is about, and that’s what Jesus whole ministry is about: As the Father and I are one, I pray that they also, may be one. But being “one” does not mean being ideological clones.

This is about something deeper, more complicated, and more subtle than beating people into religious or intellectual conformity.

What any person gets from Jesus, how we interpret him, what our faith looks like, how it works in our lives, will be different for all of us.  Because we are different. Our needs are different. Our experiences are different. Our minds are different.

If by “knowing God” you mean comprehending, and being without doubt and ambiguity, then no one knows the only true God. God isn’t something you know, the way you know a telephone number. No one even knows what Jesus was really like. We don’t know how much in the Bible is an accurate record of what Jesus said or did, and how much is a fictionalized memory.

I think we’re on fairly safe ground by saying that Jesus was a powerful person. He was inspired.  He inspired others. He probably had a very vivid prayer life. People listened to him. Some followed him. He cared about them.  He cared about the people who didn’t listen to him or follow him.

In his priestly prayer, he prayed “As the Father and I are one, I pray that they also, may be one.” It’s a prayer, not a sledge hammer. Not an edict. Not a threat. Not an insult. Not a form of manipulation. He prayed that we would find our way ­ individually and collectively.

That’s what we’re all trying to do.  And that’s what the is about.  We’re trying to be a praying, seeking community to help each other find our way.

So as we come to receive the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood this morning, it’s in that spirit we’re invited to come. To find our way. Are you finding your way?  Do you feel God’s spirit helping you? I hope you do feel that, because God’s spirit offers you Jesus as one way, a powerful way, a time-honored way, a tested way, to help you find your way.