From Hauerwas to Rashi: Christian Effectiveness, Patience, and Miracles

I was driving home from Auburn, Alabama this weekend, where I spent 4... ok, 5 years obtaining a piece of paper that says I've suffered enough to be considered a college graduate, and listening to one of my favorite people on the planet, Dr. Stanley Hauerwas. Dr. Hauerwas teaches theological ethics at Duke Divinity, was named America's Best Theologian in 2001 (to which he promptly responded, "Best is not a theological catagory."), and is probably one of the more interesting theological educators out there. In his lecture, Dr. Hauerwas quoting John Howard Yoder says, "The key to the obedience of God's people is not their effectiveness, but their patience." This leads to an interesting dilemma with the rise and statis of seeker friendly churches that came to power in the 80's, 90's, and on into this millennium. Many people come seeking God, but in their hustle, and bustle, and endless programming, and constant movement have yet to find him... or perhaps to put it better, they've yet to SEE him. I specifically use the word see because it leads me to another interesting insight. I'm currently reading a book called "GOD was in this place & I, i did not know" by Lawrence Kushner. In this book Kushner (a Jewish scholar at Hebrew Union College) examines classic historical responses to Genesis 28:16, the verse which also makes up the title of this book. In Chapter 1, Kushner examines the response of Rabbi Shelomo ben Yitzhaki, also known as Rashi. Summarizing Rashi, Kushner explains that Jacob's not knowing that God was present in that place can be read in light of Exodus 3 (Moses and the burning bush) to give us a wonderful insight. Have you ever watched something burning? Wood burns slowly (hence it's use as fuel for fires) which means that Moses would have had to stop and watch the bush for some time to know for sure that it wasn't being consumed. You see, the miracle could only be spotted by those willing enough to stop and simply wait. And so we come full circle. To often we yearn to see the miracles God promises, to fuel our belief that we're being effective as christians, but how often do we stand still long enough to see God's will come to fruition? And that is our core mistake: To measure by effectiveness what should be borne in patience.

"Don't move." - Indiana Jones in The Temple of Doom
"Be still and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10