Sewing Up The Curtain

Sewing Up the Curtain

Annual Business Meeting

Feb 15th, 2025

Scripture: Exodus 20:21

“The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.”

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INTRODUCTION: A FAMILIAR MOMENT WITH AN UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH

Looking out at our church family, we have a lot of history seen in the experience of our members.

Some were alive before there was television, or electricity here in Trempealeau County.

Some of us only had three TV channels growing up. Or a dial that spun our antenna around in a circle to catch the signal.

Some of us are Generation X- grew up latch-key kids and learned to navigate life on our own.

Others, never knew an existence without this thing called the internet, or social media, or 24/7 access to anything you’d ever want to know.

One of the things I found fascinating when the internet came out were discussion forums. I quickly become a moderator and administrator of a forum called theology review, in which I moderated arguments between people of all Christian theological persuasions.

Calvinists

Arminians

Orthrodox

Catholic

Every flavor of protestant.

I loved doing it, because it sharpened my ability to really understand what I believe, and why I believe it.

That discipline is called “Apologetics”. It means to defend our faith- using the bible, logic, and dialectics to show people the truth about Jesus.

I’m going to use that discipline this morning in discussing our relationship with God, and the differences between religion, and relationship.

We begin in Exodus.

When most people think of Exodus chapter 20, they immediately think of the Ten Commandments. Stone tablets. Rules. Moral law. God’s expectations.

But verse 21—tells us something far more revealing, but not about God, but about us.

After God speaks—after He reveals Himself, His holiness, His moral law, and His will—the people do something unexpected.

“The people stood far off…”

Pause

“The people stood far off…”

They don’t rush forward.

They don’t lean in.

They don’t ask for more.

They step back.

I’ve always considered this to be one of the most tragic accounts in the bible, as it reveals the spiritual condition of humanity.

Because these people, after witnessing all of these miraculous, incredible, and mind-blowing signs say, in essence:

“Moses—you go. You hear from God. Then tell us what He says.”

But let’s be fair, this is not a moment of rebellion.

This is a moment of fear.

And that distinction matters—because fear often disguises itself as reverence.

Let’s read the verse in context- this is right after God revealed the 10 commandments

Exodus 20:18 All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”

20 Moses responded to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear him and will not sin.” 21 And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the total darkness where God was.

Prayer

I mentioned a moment ago, I think verse 21 is one of the most tragic verses of the entire bible.

Because it represents a human condition that keeps us from living a victorious and intimate life with God

We prefer God on our terms.

That is the definition of religion- making God fit into a box that we are comfortable with.

Let’s explore that thought this morning

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POINT 1: GOD DREW NEAR—THE PEOPLE BACKED AWAY

Let’s be clear about what’s happening at Sinai.

God is not distant here.

God is not hidden.

God is not withholding.

God comes down.

The fire.

The cloud.

The voice.

This is God initiating relationship.

The people’s response is telling:

They are not necessarily saying, “We reject You.”

They say, “We’re afraid of being this close.”

So they instead choose distance.

And they delegate the intimacy to Moses.

They ask for a mediator not because God demanded one—but because they couldn’t bear proximity.

And here’s the key insight:

God did not create distance-HE came close. Human fear created the distance.

This is the first great example of what I’ll call delegated spirituality—

letting someone else do the dangerous work of being close to God.

There is a consequence of that delegated spirituality though- it produces religion where relationship is being called for.

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POINT 2: RELIGION IS BORN RIGHT HERE

This moment at Sinai is the birthplace of a pattern that will repeat itself over and over again.

When God draws near, humans often respond by building systems to keep Him at a manageable distance.

Rules feel safer than relationship.

Structure feels safer than presence.