It is so cold tonight that it plants itself like a garment on your body. When you enter your warm home and take off your coat, sweater, and L.L. Bean Golves, you feel like you still require them for a bit longer. 

‘God told me,’ I have heard all of my Christian Life. One time a trusted fellow member of a church board that we were on told me that God had spoken to her audibly and said that we needed to choose a member of our congregation to be our pastor. This woman not only had her feet on the ground but was a vigorous church worker and a highly educated individual. I was so dismayed I asked her specifically if she heard God’s voice and she said that he did. The new pastor turned out to be of dubious character and was soon released from the pastorate. 

Having been a Christian for 56 years I have yet to hear the voice of God tell me anything. However many of my friends and colleagues tell me that they do regularly. When someone believes that they have heard directly from God…from his mouth to your ear…they are difficult to convince of anything different. The Bible is a facile book that is often made to substantiate whatever your faith thesis is. 

Prejudices bias tribalism and Christian Nationalism are emotional subjects but they are not the voice of God. The valiant attempt to equate biblical heroes with politicians is a supreme exercise in futility. 

Emotions are powerful players in our day-to-day lives. We want a leader who tickles our ears and makes us feel better about ourselves. Our Golden Calf is shiny and reflective of our upturned faces as we admire its brilliant sheen… It is not King David…