Oops! How Old is God

In order for something new to come, there must be an old one. How old is old? Last night, I did not spend time counting down to 2009 as most of you did but chose to sleep and wake up in the New Year. I did it and it worked. I slept for one year!

Sleeping it off, however, did not solve the problems that I did not address last year. Neither did your counting down to 2009. Last year challenges are still with us and we have to pray for proper wisdom to address them. Our God never grows old and for that reason, we have come with him into this New Year. Only if we are ready to pray to him day and night.

Speaking about prayer, I overhead a discussion between a five year old boy and his father. The boy was concerned about God and why we only go to Church on Sunday. So he walked to his father and asked, "Daddy, why do we worship a dead God?" Being a great theologian, his father responded that God is not dead but alive. The boy did not allow the theological training of his father intimidate him, so he asked, "But why is it that we cannot see him. We cannot see dead people therefore God is dead." His father told him that he will meet God when he grows up and know that God is alive and real. I am sure that was the best answer to give to a child but I promise you, I would not have done better.

The question of the dead God who cannot be seen has troubled theologians for so many years. I will not spend time telling you about what theologians enjoy doing; arguing about God.

What I can say, however, is that the boy's question was based on his experience of God. He goes to Church and hears people talk about God but when they leave the Church, God has no place in their lives. The God who is only visited in the Church on Sunday and locked in the sanctuary for the following Sunday is a dead God. Maybe the boy was right. We cannot claim to worship a living God on Sundays only, and Monday through Saturday we lock God in the Church. A living God should become part of our daily lives and must be able to direct our lives. A living God should live among us as Emmanuel and be experienced through our daily communion with each other and with God. Therefore, among this year's resolutions, let us not forget to be with God daily.