SERMON God and Country July 3, 2011
714
Today we give thanks for the life that we have here in this country....
-
for FREEDOM to live in ways of our own choosing,
-
for FREEDOM to worship in the church of our choice,
-
for FREEDOM to choose our own government and our own leaders.
The underlying principles of our country are ...
that all humanity is created equal
and because we are all equal in the eyes of God....
everyone should have equal opportunities for a good life and
everyone should be treated equally by the justice system.
THIS is a way–of–life that pleases God.
Our Declaration of Independence says...
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
And governments are to be formed to create a society
in which people’s God-given rights are vigorously defended.
Clearly, God and country are intertwined.... inextricably intertwined.
We are citizens of the United State of America
AND we are citizens of the Kingdom of God.
We have dual citizenship. AND SO... our loyalty is to both God and country.
As disciples of Christ, our loyalty is, first, to God and then to country.
Jesus said: Seek first the Kingdom of God and you won’t need to worry
about what you will eat or what you will wear. (Mt 6:33)
And why shouldn’t we worry about those necessities of life?
...BECAUSE the people whose lives are dedicated to
LIVING the values of the Kingdom of God
will NOT allow you to become so poor
that you have NOTHING to eat and NOTHING to wear.
Jesus said when you have fed and clothed the poor
you have fed and clothed Christ. (Mt 25)
We, as Americans, may NOT AGREE
on the best way to implement Jesus’ Kingdom values.
But we DO AGREE that we are called to bring Kingdom values
into our national life together.
You job... and mine... is to make our country a reflection of the Kingdom of God.
We VOTE and we SERVE in government
in order to bring in the Kingdom of God here on earth...
thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
But... God’s Kingdom won’t come by wishing.
You and I are called to ACT.... to work for the kingdom... to do practical things.
AND WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?
We are called to SERVE one another.
Those whom we elect to govern us ought to act as civil servants not tyrants,
They should NOT become wealthy at the expense of those less powerful.
And if our civil servants get out of line... then we are obliged to act...
to vote them out of office and put new people in office
who will bring in the Kingdom values.
Businesses will not exist to make their owners rich at all costs.
A business that is part of the Kingdom of God will:
-
concentrate on meeting real needs of consumers
-
treat employees well,
-
use its resources efficiently
-
care for the environment
-
return a reasonable profit
-
make the world a better place.
Government should establish living conditions
that provide the means of decent life for its citizens.
where there are decent work opportunities,
education for everyone
public safety and public services for everyone...
never becoming a way for someone to oppress another or to get rich.
Military force and Police Forces will be used as sparingly as possible.
Agencies that use violent means in their work
must be held accountable....
never to use their power to take advantage of anyone.
Judges will judge with fairness.
They will not line their own pockets.
Their primary goal will be to seek the glory of God,
rather than their own honor.
We are God’s Kingdom people.
We are to bring in the kingdom in practical ways.
-
We are work in our communities.
-
We are to serve in our government.
-
We are to vote for Kingdom candidates and programs
And in so doing... we act as good citizens of the United States
and good citizens of the Kingdom of God.
Seek, first, the Kingdom of God, and all else will turn out right. AMEN.
SERMON God and Country July 3, 2011
714
Today we give thanks for the life that we have here in this country....
-
for FREEDOM to live in ways of our own choosing,
-
for FREEDOM to worship in the church of our choice,
-
for FREEDOM to choose our own government and our own leaders.
The underlying principles of our country are ...
that all humanity is created equal
and because we are all equal in the eyes of God....
everyone should have equal opportunities for a good life and
everyone should be treated equally by the justice system.
THIS is a way–of–life that pleases God.
Our Declaration of Independence says...
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
And governments are to be formed to create a society
in which people’s God-given rights are vigorously defended.
Clearly, God and country are intertwined.... inextricably intertwined.
We are citizens of the United State of America
AND we are citizens of the Kingdom of God.
We have dual citizenship. AND SO... our loyalty is to both God and country.
As disciples of Christ, our loyalty is, first, to God and then to country.
Jesus said: Seek first the Kingdom of God and you won’t need to worry
about what you will eat or what you will wear. (Mt 6:33)
And why shouldn’t we worry about those necessities of life?
...BECAUSE the people whose lives are dedicated to
LIVING the values of the Kingdom of God
will NOT allow you to become so poor
that you have NOTHING to eat and NOTHING to wear.
Jesus said when you have fed and clothed the poor
you have fed and clothed Christ. (Mt 25)
We, as Americans, may NOT AGREE
on the best way to implement Jesus’ Kingdom values.
But we DO AGREE that we are called to bring Kingdom values
into our national life together.
You job... and mine... is to make our country a reflection of the Kingdom of God.
We VOTE and we SERVE in government
in order to bring in the Kingdom of God here on earth...
thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
But... God’s Kingdom won’t come by wishing.
You and I are called to ACT.... to work for the kingdom... to do practical things.
AND WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?
We are called to SERVE one another.
Those whom we elect to govern us ought to act as civil servants not tyrants,
They should NOT become wealthy at the expense of those less powerful.
And if our civil servants get out of line... then we are obliged to act...
to vote them out of office and put new people in office
who will bring in the Kingdom values.
Businesses will not exist to make their owners rich at all costs.
A business that is part of the Kingdom of God will:
-
concentrate on meeting real needs of consumers
-
treat employees well,
-
use its resources efficiently
-
care for the environment
-
return a reasonable profit
-
make the world a better place.
Government should establish living conditions
that provide the means of decent life for its citizens.
where there are decent work opportunities,
education for everyone
public safety and public services for everyone...
never becoming a way for someone to oppress another or to get rich.
Military force and Police Forces will be used as sparingly as possible.
Agencies that use violent means in their work
must be held accountable....
never to use their power to take advantage of anyone.
Judges will judge with fairness.
They will not line their own pockets.
Their primary goal will be to seek the glory of God,
rather than their own honor.
We are God’s Kingdom people.
We are to bring in the kingdom in practical ways.
-
We are work in our communities.
-
We are to serve in our government.
-
We are to vote for Kingdom candidates and programs
And in so doing... we act as good citizens of the United States
and good citizens of the Kingdom of God.
Seek, first, the Kingdom of God, and all else will turn out right. AMEN.
SERMON for March 18
Numbers 21: 4-9 and John 3: 14-21
761
There are times.... in our lives ...
when God looks, for all the world, to be missing in action.
The Hebrew people, wandering in the desert wilderness
prayed and wondered the same thing.
Same old manna from Heaven every morning. Boring....
Water was in short supply.
Every day was a day of having just barely enough,
just barely making it, ... just barely scraping by.
Was God paying attention? Maybe... but it didn’t really feel like it.
And so the people complained....
bad food, not enough water...
why was it taking so long to get to the Promised Land?
Where was God when you need him?
BUT.... God WAS present and God WAS listening...
and God did a most peculiar thing.
God sent serpents among the people...
serpents that bit the people and poisoned them.
When people speak against God and against one another, ....
when, in times of trouble, love turns to resentment and envy,
then it is as if snakes are biting and poisoning relationships.
That’s what I think was happening on the way to the Pr Land.
In desperation, and sorry for all the complaining they had done,
the people asked Moses to pray to God for relief.
God, heard Moses’ prayer to remove the serpents
BUT... God did NOT remove the serpents.
Instead, God gave them what they genuinely needed...
which was not exactly the same as what they had prayed for.
God directed Moses make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole.
When the people looked at the serpent, they were healed.
Interesting! God did not zoom in and remove the snakes.
Instead, that which caused the people the greatest suffering
was re--presented to them in a way
that it became the source of their healing.
God did not dash out and reorder creation
by removing the naturally occurring snakes.
God actually redeemed reality rather than patching it up.
THAT is what John is referring to in his Gospel when he said...
Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (Jn 3:14-15)
Jesus will be lifted up on the cross
and we, who look upon HIS suffering will see the way to forgiveness.
There is a story that comes out of the desert, nomadic Bedouin culture.
The Bedouin people live much as the characters of the Old Testament did.
During a heated argument, according to this story,
a young Bedouin struck and killed a friend of his.
Knowing the ancient, inflexible customs of his people,
the young man fled, running across the desert
under the cover of darkness, seeking safety.
He went to the tent of the tribal chief in order to seek his protection.
The old chief took the young man in.
The chief assured him that he would be safe
until the matter could be settled.
The next day, the young man's pursuers arrived,
demanding the murderer be turned over to them.
The Chief said, "I cannot give him to you.
I have given my word to protect him."
"But you don't know whom he killed!" they countered.
I have given my word," the chief repeated.
"He killed your son!" one of them blurted out.
The chief was deeply and visibly shaken with his news.
He stood speechless with his head bowed for a long time.
The accused and the accusers as well as curious onlookers
waited breathlessly.
Finally the old man raised his head.
"Then he shall become MY son," he informed them,
"and everything I have will one day be his." ppp
The young man certainly didn't deserve such generosity.
And that, of course, is the point.
Love in its purest form is beyond comprehension.
No one can merit it. It is freely given.
The love of the Chief is a reflection
of the incomprehensibly restorative love of God.
Look at the cross. See the love of God offered for you and for me...
love ... costly love ... offered freely .... that you and I might be healed
Jesus ... on the cross ... heals our sins.
By grace we are saved...
NOT by the benefit of works that we have done.
Disciples are to live as Jesus lived.
If Jesus offers forgiveness without counting the cost...
then you and I are to do the same...
YOU... you are disciples of Christ.
You are called to a magnificent calling... to love as Jesus loves....
so that we all may have eternal life!!
AMEN.
