"More Complaining"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, September 28, 2008 at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "More Complaining"

Questioning God:

In this week’s reading from Exodus 17:1-7, the Israelites complained because they were dying of thirst. They wondered if God was really there.

Is it OK to wonder that today?

More than 50 miners were killed in China Monday during explosions at two different mines. Several others are missing and injured.

"Why did you send those miners to work today, God? Why did you send them to work to die?"

19 people were killed in Somalia Monday when insurgents bombed a local market. Many of those killed were children.

"Why did you send those people to the market today, God? Why did you send them to buy food and then to die?"

60 people were killed in Pakistan last Saturday when a truck broke through a concrete barrier and exploded at a hotel

"Why did you have those people at the hotel on Saturday, God? Why were they staying there and why did you let them die?"

In our world, more than 1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and more than 2 billion lack sanitation.

"Why do you let people die because they don’t even have basic survival necessities, God?"

In the last 50 years, almost 400 million people worldwide have died from hunger and poor sanitation.

"Why have so many people died when they didn’t need to, God? Why do you let so many people die?"

I could go on for the rest of this morning’s sermon talking about tragedy and then asking God. WHY?!

WHY?

Why do people starve and die of thirst?

Why do people die in violence, tragedy and disaster?

Why doesn’t God make it better?

I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.

In this morning’s reading Moses cried to God when the people were dying of thirst and God responded by giving them water.

Don’t we cry to God through all of the problems the world faces?

Why doesn’t God open a rock and give water to everyone who is thirsty?

I don’t know.

But wait.

Over 100 people were rescued in the Mountains of India this week after being stranded due to heavy snows. Another 100 still stranded had emergency supplies air-dropped to them.

"Thank you, God, that these travelers were rescued and cared for. Thank you, God that they are safe."

Nearly 2000 people who ignored evacuation orders in Texas were rescued after hurricane Ike roared ashore two weeks ago.

"Thank you, God, for saving the lives of folks when they wouldn’t or couldn’t evacuate. Thank you for those who are safe."

Also two weeks ago, 25 people were rescued by the French Coastguard off the coast of France after their ship sank. They all had evacuated into lifeboats.

"Thank you, God, that those on the ship in France were prepared and that they are now safe. Thank you for saving the people on that ship."

I could go on for the rest of this morning’s sermon talking about rescues of people in dire straits. I could thank God over and over again that so many were saved. And I could ask God – why? Why were they saved?

Why? Why?

Why are people given needed supplies so that they can survive?

Why are people rescued from violence, tragedy and disaster?

Why does God save some people and not others?

I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.

Does God love some more than others?

I don’t believe that.

Do some people pray harder than others?

I don’t believe that’s why things happen the way they do.

Aren’t people who pray sometimes saved and sometimes not?

Aren’t people who don’t pray sometimes saved and sometimes not?

I don’t claim any understanding about the big picture reasons why people are killed in or saved from disaster or anything else.

But I do believe that even though we don’t know and don’t understand and get frustrated and sad and angry and confused we still are to do these things God calls us to do.

Act with compassion. Act with mercy. Act with forgiveness. ALWAYS act with love – the most important – non-negotiable commandment.

Back once more to today’s reading: It says that the Israelites quarreled with Moses and with God.

Quarreled.

We would understand that as argued. But the term has more to it. It’s as if the Israelites brought a case against Moses and God - tried them for neglect.

There’s another time in history when faithful Jews brought a case against God. In his book, Night, Elie Wiesel recounts what he says to this day was a true –not made up- event. One evening some in the concentration camp put God on trial. They quarreled and brought charges against God for the horrors of the holocaust. They had been kidnapped, separated from their families, beaten and burned alive. Those gathered found God guilty.

___Just a few minutes afterward they knelt for evening prayers.

Act with compassion. Act with mercy. Act with forgiveness. ALWAYS act with love – the most important – non-negotiable commandment.

I don’t know why things happen the way they do. I don’t think it’s possible to offer any easy answer. I also don’t think God gets angry or dangerous when we cry out with the question– WHY!?!?!

God can handle more complaining.

And we can pray.

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