Weddings and Wars

Currently I am a pastor in Guyana, South America. One of my joys has been presiding at weddings. At the reception guests are invited to give advice to the couple. Almost every greeting and speech reminds the couple to rely on God, that God must be central in their life together. For Lutherans in Guyana, God talk flows easily; even when some of the guests and family members are not Christians. It is not that they boast about their faith, it is rather that they cannot imagine not talking about the role that God plays in their lives.

Deborah, the judge, lived during a time when it seems that God talk did not flow easily. The fourth chapter of Judges tells us that the people had once again turned away from God and found themselves being oppressed by the Canaanites. As the story is told. Deborah calls on Barak to raise an army of 10,000 men. Barak is not as confident as Deborah and says that he will only go to war if she goes along. Deborah goes and the war is won.

By the grace of God most of us will go to weddings and not war; but how confident are we in our faith?

Gracious God, give us the courage to speak in your name. Amen. — VSR