But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:15-16

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 18, 2018): 1 Peter 1

British novelist Martin Amis in “The Second Plane: 14 Responses to September 11” makes this observation: “It is straightforward—and never mind, for now, about plagues and famines: if God existed, and if he cared for humankind, he would never have given us religion.” In response, I have to admit that I am not sure that God gave us religion. In fact, there are moments in the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, when I am not convinced that God’s response to his creation isn’t “Okay, if you want to deal with me in this way, then I will let you. But I command you to live up to your promises.” After all, the idea of sacrifice, a religious institution in the ancient world in many religions, predates the Mosaic Law. Even the story of Cain and Abel carries a story of sacrifice and religion, and the story takes place long before any pronouncement of God. Religion seems to be our idea, an idea to which that God has relented and accepted on our behalf. But we have failed to live up to our own rules.

I struggle with the problem of evil, and I totally understand Amis’s comment. If religion is God’s idea, then it seems to have been a bad one. While I reject that religion is the basis for many of the wars around the world (I think the basic reason for war is greed and that we simply place the blame on religion, but the blame does not belong there), religion can be a contributing factor.

But there is also a problem with judging God using our limited frame of reference. God is other. In spite of the Genesis story that humans are made in his likeness, we do not in any way resemble God. “In our likeness” seems to be a reference to our moral character, or maybe our higher level functions, but the essential core of God is other which means not like me. This sense of otherness is what the Bible means when it declares God to be Holy. Holy does not equate to perfection; it equates to the otherness of God.

So God is Holy. This means that he is set apart and that there are two ways to relate to this God who is holy or other. One way is through religion, an idea that Amis, for good reason, rejects. Religion says that I have to identify with God through the ideas of sacrifice and obedience. Religion is highly ritualistic. This kind of religion is reflected in rules and regulations and results in our seeing a God who appears to be wrapped up in some cosmic fight with evil.

But at his heart, this is not a description of the God of creation. Okay, it is possible that God will conform to this realm if that is where we want to meet him, but it is not him. Rather, God is the being who created this world and then set us in it, giving us the ability to choose good and evil. He refuses to childproof our world so that we cannot get into trouble. He made us the caretakers of our environment, and each other. The answer to Cain’s question “Am I my brother’s keeper?” is still yes. And this God has issued to us an invitation – Be holy as I am holy. Be other as I am other. Participate with me in the act of loving this world. Be peacemakers wherever there is strife. Stand up against evil wherever it abounds. Give your help freely to those who cannot help themselves. Love when loving isn’t easy. God invites us into the process. So much, although not everything, could be solved by simply taking responsibility in this world and deciding to work with God.  

Amis takes aim at a God who would allow the 9/11 tragedy to take place. But the reality is that even in that tragedy, we failed God and each other. We forgot our responsibility in the mess. We are the reason for the horrors of September 11, 2001. We could have chosen love and failed. And we are still failing.

But God keeps issuing the invitation. Be holy as I am holy. Be set apart from the world. Respond with love everywhere, not just where it seems appropriate. Mend fences. Love those who live on the other side of the issue, race, or religion. Be holy. Will you mess up? Of course, that is part of the human condition. But you will also learn, and as a result, will love the world better. I believe that we have the power to stop the tragedies of this world. And the solution starts by declaring our love for each other in support of a Holy God.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2