Karl Barth’s theological address, God
In Action, speaks of the church, “…the constitution and preservation of the
Church rests in this, that man hears God. This is what makes it truly great and
truly little.” Is this news to you? Perhaps not at first, however it is
bizarre when we really think about it. Essentially, Barth is saying that two
random people on the other side of the globe could be the church! Two un-ordained people congregated with
listening ears and obedient hearts living out God’s mission.
As I grew up, countless times I failed
to listen to my parents, just like everyone else. I found myself joining a
selfish mission. This struggle may be the same for the Church today—sheep
following voices other than their Good Shepherd’s. After all, there are many
voices to hear. Where do we begin?
“Gather together and hear, O
sons of Jacob; And listen to Israel your father.” (Gen. 49:2 NASB)
Gather together and hear. That’s our command. The Bible is covered with God’s
longing for his people to listen, and communication with him is what the we
should ultimately want—the Church, the Ship of Salvation, avoiding shipwrecks because the captain is heard.
Like a quiet course before a golfer swings, (both the Church and individually)
we ought to focus in silence to truly hear our Father speak; the rest will follow.
Gathering together to hear God is that crucial, sometimes, we as the
Church, completely skip over it. Man listening to God is a wacky ordeal. Isn’t
it? Truly hearing God can be scary for you just as it is for can for your
church. Yet given its mystery and challenge, there is no mission as glorious as
our Father’s—our God moving and working in us and in spite of us.
Phil
I just finally read the church chapter in God in Action–it was definitely completely reorienting when it comes to the church. we have so many tasks and priorities when it comes to church and if KB is right, often we don’t accomplish church at church (I really hope that made sense. in my head, it definitely did).
Phil, this is a wonderful call to re-center. After reading two posts on the issue of consumerism in contemporary American Christianity it seems this is a central answer to that – we are too caught up listening to other gods, to hear the true God in our churches. Church therefore becomes an issue of aesthetic, or ‘vibes’ rather than an intentional community coming together in reverence, awe and gratitude, with the purpose of hearing the one true God.
My heart truly resonates with this post Phil. Listen is one of the key tools for the leaders in the church today.