Below is the audio and text of sermon preached 9/11/16. For many years now I have been strengthened and comforted by the belied of “God In Process”; this is the most explicit I have ever been.

Sermon Audio

Sermon preached at Trinity Church, Newport RI. Sunday September 11 2016
The Reverend Alan Neale, “Stiff necks are not comfortable”

Exodus 32:14 “And the Lord changed his mind”, Message Translation “And the Lord did think twice”.

Our text confronts us with an image of God that, perhaps, is not too common or acceptable or even palatable.

In personal, familial, community and political life we are at best sensitive, at worst alarmed, by those who change their minds, those who think twice about an erstwhile firm commitment or irrevocable decision. Though, to quote one wit, “if you can’t change your mind, are you sure you have one”.

We heard today that St. Paul changes his mind, thank God!  His unalterable dedication to Judaism is exchanged for the dedication to the very Jesus whom he persecuted… even though (I Timothy 1:13) he was “formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor and a man of violence.”

We heard today in Luke 15 the authentic shepherd deserts his ninety-nine sheep in search of the one errant sheep and the dutiful housekeeper forsakes her duties in search of one missing coin. “They change their minds” and indeed “they think twice” about the primary task that is before them.

There are at least nineteen verses when Holy Scripture confronts us with the God who “changes his mind/who indeed thinks twice”. I recall at least two instances when the Gospel writers confront us with Jesus changing his plans – John 7 and John 11.

So, what does our eloquent though cryptic text say about God (theology) and about ourselves (anthropology)?

About God – theological implications.

It would seem that God is in process – in process of becoming, in process of loving, in process of judgement.
In Jonah 3, the prophet pledges himself to a scary, dangerous and prophetic task in the hope… that God will relent, change His mind!
Too often, too much, too painfully there are many who imagine that God has reached an irrevocable, immutable stance toward them that cannot ever be altered. They are wrong – definitively, categorically wrong.
The story is often told of a man kneeling on a sidewalk by a street lamp. A passer-by asks, “Can I help you?” “Please, I’ve lost my wallet.” “Oh, did you lose it here?” “No, but this is where the light is.” We often think that God is immutable, immoveable but in truth, He comes to where we are – problems and all.
God participates in our conflicts, struggles; emotional scuffles and psychic skirmishes.

About us – anthropological implications.
In the abyss of insecurity we will often be tempted to define ourselves by irreversible decisions and unalterable judgements. And so Herod promises all to the temptress Salome and decapitates John the Baptist; and Jephthah makes a ridiculous oath and slays his daughter.
Our God opens to us the path of reflection, of change of mind. The one we thought insufferable, we discover is beset with unimaginable trauma. The one we dismissed as toxic is beset with demons too awful for words. To mind-change in order to bring glory to God, to offer compassion to others is an authentic and commendable act.
God participates in our conflicts, struggles; emotional scuffles and psychic skirmishes.

Today 15 years ago the most wretched, awful, tragic event occurred. From September 11 2001 we have been forced to change our minds, to think twice about security and the fragility of life. All that we most hold dear is now subject to honest revision, to sober reassessment and to do so is reasonable and…  divine.

In our presidential campaign it is imperative that we commit to a candidate that is both ready to be resolute but also to be responsive to contemporary truth and ready to acknowledge a readiness to change mind and direction – not based on convenient popularity but on admission of fault and acceptance of responsibility. I need to hear “I was wrong” and “I was misinformed” and “I am sorry”. This is the stuff, the substance of godly, divine nature.

This past week I have been talking with a bride I married some years ago. She is resolutely committed to her vows and she is unequivocally in love with her husband and yet things have changed and I have to help her, dear thig, to change her mind and think again.

God participates in our conflicts, struggles; emotional scuffles and psychic skirmishes.

God give us courage and wisdom to know when… to change our minds. God, help us! Amen