CALLED TO LISTEN

 

One of the newsletters I read with great appreciation is THE HIGH CALLING, published by The Francis Asbury Press of Wilmore, KY. This July-August issue includes such names as John Eldredge, Michael  Henderson, Leroy Linsey, and Scott Peck. Also included are Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Tim Roehl,  Thomas Oden, Walter Wangerin and a brief piece by Robert Greenleaf. Editor Stan Key has assembled a formidable group to provide a power-filled package of authors and thinkers that expand his theme—the opened ear.

Key describes “The ‘opened’ ear’” as one that ultimately “speaks of the submissive servant, willing to serve out of love.” I found Leroy Linsey especially insightful  on the opened ear. Linsey is a Missionary-speaker for the One Mission  Society, in theological education and discipleship. He holds the PhD degree and is deeply committed to--and heavily involved with--the Asbury Society.

Linsey wonders what Stephen meant when he accused the Jewish leaders of being stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears (Acts 7:1). Noting that they were stubborn to the point of having both uncircumcised hearts and ears, Linsey suggests Stephen was perhaps thinking of Jeremiah’s words centuries earlier: “To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it” (Jer 6:10).

Linsey recalls the Exodus event when Moses instructed the people when an indentured servant stayed on with his master beyond his time of designated service, or the Year of Jubilee arrived. “The master was to take the servant to a doorpost and pierce his ear through with an awl. The pierced ear was a sign of submissive, loving service, denoting obedience and surrender (see Ex 21:5-6).

Isaiah described rebellious Israel with this same language: “You have never heard, you have never known, from of old your ear has not been opened [literally, pierced, or bored]” (Isa 48:8). Citing additional references, Linsey wonders if we readers have “pierced” ears and would Stephen perhaps think we had “uncircumcised” ears--when we do not hear our Lord’s words.

Bonhoeffer offered his belief about “The Ministry of Listening” and Editor Key summarized Bonhoeffer’s belief: “But Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by him who is himself the great listener and whose work they should share.”

I love Bonhoeffer’s reference to the Ministry of Listening and I accept his challenge, that became the editor’s theme for this issue of THE HIGH CALLING—We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God.

From Warner's World, this is walkingwithwarner.blogspot.com – we are no longer our own; we have been bought with a price—not my will but thine be done.