Sunday I preached about two types of love. I wanted to contrast the type of love that constantly is seeking the next new thing. Using Gomer and Hosea as a metaphor for these two type of loves. Gomer who constantly seeks the next new experience to try to feel whole or valued. I do think we need to see beyond the gender of Gomer and Hosea as we are caught in the tension between what Gomer felt. How often do we look to our consuming and seeking the next high to try to fill some unmet need? Even churches can get caught in this struggle. We look for the newest way of worship, the newest multimedia event, or newest form of worship that somehow is going to propel us forward.
I donot object to using the technology and music of today to convey the good news. What concerns me is that sometimes we are more interested in doing worship in a particular way whether that would be using contemporary styles, traditional styles, or liturgical styles as an end in themselves. Sometimes I fear that we spend more time trying to please our senses than we do in trying to please God. If you are a member of the church think about how worship is done in your church. Or think about your experiences in the church. Does the church seem connected to your life offering ways of living faithfully to do God's Will?
The church exists to be a place where we can experience the Hosea type of love. The persistent love of God for all creation. The book of Hosea shows us this type of love. A love that forgives, extends mercy even to the unfaithful. That is what the church should be. A sanctuary for the least, the lost, and the lonely. The church neeeds to focus on ways of conveying that type of love to those within and without the walls of the church.
The tension is between meeting my needs and doing God's Will. Our struggle is with this tension, opening our hearts and minds to God. The question we need to ask is where are we along this polarity? If we are closer to Gomer, we need to slow down and begin to pray for only what we need not for everything we want. If we are closer to Hosea, we need to share with others not just in words but also in our actions.